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THE  CHILDREN'S  BREAD. 


®bt  @f)tIBren’£  iSreaU. 


SHORT  SERMONS  TO  CHILDREN. 


H 


BY 

WILMOT-BUXTON, 


M.A., 


VICAR  OF  S.  G1LES-IN-TIIE-WOOD,  NORTH  DEVON,  AUTHOR  OF  “MISSION  SERMONS 
FOR  A YEAR,”  “THE  LORD’S  SONG,”  “THE  LIFE  WORTH  LIVING,” 
“SUNDAY  SERMONETTES  FOR  A YEAR,”  ETC. 


Second  Edition. 


W.  SKEFFINGTON  & SON,  163.  PICCADILLY. 

1884, 


251 

ini 


TO 

THE  RIGHT  REV.  THE  BISHOP  OF  BEDFORD, 


(Suffragan  Bishop  for  East  London) 


These  Sermons 


ARE  (BY  PERMISSION)  DEDICATED. 


<£onuttts 


SERMON  I. 

TEE  W A I TING  - ROOM. 

(Advent.) 

i Cor.  i.  7.  page 

u Waiting.”  1 

SERMON  II. 

THE  BEST  BOOK 

(Advent.) 

Psalm  cxix.  72. 

“The  law  of  thy  mouth  is  better  unto  me  than  thousands  of 
gold  and  silver.”  xi 

SERMON  III. 

A CHRISTMAS  INVITATION. 

(Christmas.) 


S.  Matthew  xi.  28. 
Gome  unto  Me.” 


18 


viii. 

SERMON  XV. 

TEE  POWER  OF  TEE  LOG. 

(Lent.) 

Psalm  xxii.  20.  pace 

“ Deliver  . . . my  darling  from  the  power  of  the  dog.”  26 

SERMON  V. 

TWO  KINDS  OF  CLOTEING. 

(Lent.) 

1 Peter  v.  5. 

“ Be  clothed  with  humility."  38 

SERMON  VI. 

SEASONABLE  WORDS. 

(Lent.) 

Proverbs  xv.  23. 

44  A word  spoken  in  due  season,  how  good  is  it.**  49 

SERMON  VII. 

MOR  E SEASONA  RLE  WORDS. 

(Lent.) 

Proverbs  xv.  23. 


“A  word  spoken  in  due  season,  how  good  is  it. 


56 


ix. 

SERMON  VIII. 

ABOUT  GETTING  ON, 

(Lent.) 

S.  Luke  xiv.  io.  page 

u Go  up  higher.”  64 

SERMON  IX. 

THE  CHILDREN'S  CRUSADE. 

(Lent.) 

2 Timothy  ii.  3. 

MA  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ.’'  71 

SERMON  X. 

THE  PLEADING  SAVIOUR. 

(Good  Friday.) 

Hebrews  vii.  25. 

“ He  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  them.”  79 

SERMON  XI. 

SOWING  AND  GATHERING , 


(Easter.) 

1 Cor.  xy.  38. 

“To  every  seed  his  own  body.1 


88 


SERMON  XII. 


GOD'S  GREAT  FAMILY. 

Psalm  l.  ii.  page 

14 1 know  all  the  fowls  of  the  mountains ; and  the  wild  beasts 
of  the  field  are  Mine.”  95 

SERMON  XIII. 

LEARNING  TO  WALK. 

Ephesians  v.  8. 

“ Walk  as  children  of  light.”  104 

SERMON  XIV. 

A DUNCE  OF  FLOWERS. 

1 Samuel  xxv.  29. 

“Bound  in  the  bundle  of  life  with  the  Lord  thy  God.”  113 

SERMON  XV. 

SMALL  THINGS. 

Zechariah  IV.  10. 

44  Who  hath  despised  the  day  of  small  things?”  119 

SERMON  XVI. 

THE  BRIGHT  BROTHERHOOD. 

Psalm  xxxiv.  7. 

“The  Angel  of  the  Lord  encampeth  round  about  them  that 
fear  Him,  and  delivereth  them,”  126 


€f)c  ©fnUmn’g  Uvcau, 

SERMON  I. 

THE  WAITING-ROOM. 

(aifbent.) 


I COK.  I.  7. 
u Waiting.” 

Once,  when  I was  holding  a Mission  in  the  North 
Country,  we  had  a service  in  a waiting-room  at  a 
railway-station.  You  must  know,  children,  that  I have 
held  services  in  many  strange  places ; in  a coal-mine,  far 
away  from  the  light  of  day ; on  board  ship  ; on  board 
a coal-hulk  on  the  Thames,  where  the  captain  lived  in 
the  middle  of  the  river,  with  his  wife,  and  a family  of 
birds  and  rabbits ; once  I preached  on  the  top  of  a 
heap  of  cinders;  sometimes  I have  held  a service 
among  the  great  red  furnaces  of  an  iron-works,  or 

A 


2 


QLfyt  Cfjtttfren’g 


among  the  wheels  of  a cotton-mill,  or  in  a big  stable, 
where  hundreds  of  horses  were  kept.  But  the  strangest 
place  of  all  for  a service  was,  perhaps,  the  waiting-room. 
I could  not  help  thinking  how  this  world  of  ours,  in 
which  we  live,  is  like  a waiting-room.  It  is  full  of 
people  of  all  kinds  and  classes,  all  waiting.  Most  of 
you  children  have  travelled  by  train,  and  have  seen  the 
waiting-room  at  a station.  What  different  kinds  of 
people  you  find  there  ! There  is  an  old  man,  with 
bent  back,  and  white  hair,  he  won’t  make  many  more 
journeys.  And  there  is  a little  child,  with  laughing 
eyes,  he  has  a long  way  to  travel  yet.  There  sits  a 
poor  widow,  with  tears  on  her  face,  there  is  a very  sad, 
dark  journey  before  her.  There  is  a soldier  with  a 
clanking  s\^ord,  and  a sailor  with  a brown  cheek,  and  a 
Clergyman,  all  doing  the  same  thing — old  age,  child- 
hood, sorrowful  and  glad  people,  men  of  war  and  men 
of  peace,  all  waiting . They  are  waiting  to  go  on  a 
journey,  or  waiting  for  some  one  to  come  to  them.  So 
in  this  world,  little  children,  there  are  all  sorts  and 
conditions  of  men,  women,  and  children,  some  merry, 
some  sad,  some  prosperous,  some  unfortunate,  all 
waiting  to  go  on  a journey,  or  for  some  one  to  come 
to  them.  Do  you  know  for  whom  we  are  all  waiting, 
here  in  the  waiting-room  of  the  world  ? We  are  waiting 
for  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ! And  that 
coming,  or  Advent,  of  which  we  are  specially  thinking 


Clje  OTatttucpEnam. 


3 


at  this  season,  will  be  sudden  and  unexpected,  will  it 
not  ? Jesus  tells  us,  that  he  will  come  as  a thief  in  the 
night,  and  that  no  man,  not  even  the  angels,  knows 
the  day  of  His  Coming  Well,  supposing  a dear  friend 
of  yours  promised  to  come  and  see  you,  and  stay  with 
you ; and  supposing  he  told  you  that  his  visit  would  be 
quite  uncertain,  that  he  might  come  any  day,  what 
would  you  do  ? Surely  you  would  prepare  for  him,  and 
make  his  room  ready,  so  that  he  might  not  take  you 
unawares.  Jesus  Christ  has  promised  to  come  again, 
suddenly  and  unexpectedly.  O my  children,  see  that 
His  room  be  ready  for  Him.  See  that  your  hearts  be 
swept  and  garnished,  and  all  the  cobwebs  and  dust  of 
sin  swept  away ; so  that  whenever  the  Lord  comes, 
you  may  be  able  to  say — 

“ O come  to  my  heart,  Lord  Jesus, 

There  is  room  in  my  heart  for  Thee.’ 

And  whilst  we  are  waiting  we  must  not  be  idle.  When 
the  Lord  comes,  He  expects  to  find  His  people  watch- 
ings and  busy  about  their  work,  preparing  for  Him.  I 
have  heard  of  a little  boy  who  once  said  to  his  mother, 
“ I wish  I had  lived  when  Jesus  was  on  the  earth,  that 
I might  have  done  something  for  Him.”  And  his 
mother  answered,  “ What  could  a little  boy  like  you 
have  done  for  Jesus?”  The  child  thought  for  a 
moment,  and  then  said,  “ I would  have  run  everywhere 
doing  his  errands.”  Now  whilst  you  are  waiting  for 


4 


Cljtftfrai’jS  33  rcatr* 


His  Coming,  you  can  all  go  about  on  errands  foi 
Jesus.  When  you  see  a schoolmate  in  trouble,  crying, 
perhaps,  and  miserable ; and  when,  instead  of  laughing 
at  him,  you  go  and  say  a kind  word  to  him,  and  make 
him  forget  his  sorrow,  then  you  are  doing  an  errand  for 
Jesus.  When  you  went  to  see  the  sick  child  who  lives 
in  your  street,  and  offered  to  sit  and  read  to  her,  you 
were  going  on  an  errand  for  Jesus.  When  you  saw  some 
cruel  boys  throwing  stones  at  the  frogs  in  the  village 
pond,  and  when  you  stopped  their  cruel  sport,  you 
were  doing  an  errand  for  Jesus,  for  He  Himself  says, 
“ In  that  ye  have  done  it  unto  the  least  of  these,  ye 
have  done  it  unto  me.”  Every  child,  as  well  as  every 
man  and  woman,  has  an  errand  to  do  for  Jesus. 

And  now  I want  you  to  think  of  something  else. 
We  have  talked  about  the  waiting-room  at  the  railway- 
station,  let  us  think  about  the  railway  itself.  You  have 
all  seen  the  trains  running  upon  it,  and  most  of  you 
have  travelled  on  it  yourselves.  Well,  I like  to  get  a 
sermon  out  of  everything,  and  I believe  this  railway 
can  give  us  a sermon.  You  know  that  the  trains  have 
a certain  line  of  rails  to  run  upon,  and  if  they  get  off 
the  line  all  is  confusion,  and  misery,  and  death.  Now 
you  and  I have  a line  to  travel  on  through  life,  that  is, 
the  line  of  duty,  which  is  laid  down  for  us  by  God  Him- 
self. If  we  get  off  that  line,  if  we  neglect  our  duty, 
or  do  what  we  know  to  be  wrong,  we  are  sure 


OTatttncHftnom. 


5 


to  cause  harm  and  misery  to  ourselves  and  to  others. 
The  lines  of  different  railways  go  through  very  different 
kinds  of  country.  Some  lie  through  flat,  dull,  uninter- 
esting places  : others  among  high  mountains,  and  over 
great  rivers.  Some  lines  of  railway  pass  through  bright 
meadows  and  pretty  stations,  where  the  flowers  grow ; 
others  are  all  black  and  ugly  with  the  smoke  and 
factory  chimneys.  Children,  our  lives  are  like  those 
different  railroads.  Some  of  us  lead  a dull  life,  others 
a busy,  anxious  life  in  a great  city.  Some  few  have 
many  pleasures,  those  are  the  flowers  growing  beside 
the  line.  But,  remember,  wherever  the  railway  may 
go,  the  rails  are  the  same.  $ So  whether  our  way  of  life 
is  bright  or  dark,  we  must  try  to  keep  on  the  line , the 
line  of  duty.  I suppose  you  all  know  that  there  are 
certain  parts  of  the  railway  called  Points,  where  a train 
can  be  turned  from  one  line  to  another  ? These  Points 
have  to  be  most  carefully  watched  and  attended  to,  for 
if  a train  is  turned  on  to  the  wrong  line  there  is  sure  to 
be  a disaster.  For  instance,  a number  of  passengers 
travelling  on  the  up  line  might  be  turned  on  to  the  down 
line,  and  presently  there  would  be  a terrible  crash,  and 
the  road  would  be  strewed  with  killed  and  wounded 
people  Think  now,  are  there  not  many  such  points 
in  your  lives,  turning-points,  where  two  ways  meet? 
One  such  turning-point  is  when  a child  first  goes  to 
school.  Instead  of  home  life,  and  a father’s  wise 


I . 

6 


Cfje  CgtRrrtn’tf  3teatf. 


words,  and  a mothers  teaching,  there  is  the  little  world 
of  school,  with  plenty  of  good  in  it,  and  plenty  of  bad. 
Then  you  will  have  to  choose  for  yourselves,  you  can 
choose  your  companions  and  your  own  course.  O,  my 
children,  be  careful,  mind  the  Points,  get  on  the  right 
line  of  duty,  and  ask  God  to  keep  you  there  Don’t 
let  bad  example  turn  you  on  to  the  wrong  line  of  dis- 
obedience, and  idleness,  and  disgrace.  For  us  all 
there  are  two  lines,  two  roads.  Hear  what  God  says 
of  them  in  the  Bible  : “ There  is  a way  which  seemeth 
right  unto  a man,  but  the  end  thereof  are  the  ways  of 
death.”  That’s  the  wrong  way.  Again,  “ The  path  of 
the  just  is  as  the  shining  light,  which  shineth  more  and 
more  unto  the  perfect  day.”  That’s  the  right  way,  the 
path  of  duty. 

Some  of  you  are  soon  going  to  be  confirmed.  Thai 
is  another  turning  point . Then  strength  will  be  given 
you  from  on  high,  the  Holy  Ghost  will  be  given  you 
to  help  you  to  keep  on  the  line  of  duty.  That  line  of 
duty  will  bring  you  to  the  Altar  of  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment, when  Jesus  comes  to  you  as  the  Children’s 
Bread.  Be  very  careful  about  that  turning  point.  Bad 
companions  will  be  sure  to  laugh  at  you,  and  try  to 
turn  you  on  to  the  wrong  line.  They  will  try  to  keep 
you  back  from  Confirmation,  they  will  try  to  frighten 
you  away  from  the  Altar.  Be  on  your  guard,  pray 
more  earnestly  for  help,  and  keep  straight  on . 


<£f)e  TOattuts-'&oamu 


7 


Some  of  you  elder  boys  and  girls  are  going  out  to 
service,  or  have  done  so  already.  There  is  another 
turning-point . You  will  be  more  free  than  you  have 
been,  you  won’t  have  your  parents  or  your  teachers 
close  at  hand  to  advise  you.  You  will  meet  with  many 
temptations  which  you  did  not  know  before.  Take 
care  to  start  on  the  right  line,  carrying  with  you  as 
luggage,  first,  Prayer , then  God’s  Word , to  be  a light 
unto  your  path,  and  then,  as  you  travel  on,  be  sure  to 
look  out  for  the  signals.  On  a railway  the  only  way  to 
travel  safely  is  to  show  the  proper  signals,  and  to  obey 
them.  There  are  three  of  which  we  must  specially 
think.  One  signal  means  caution , another  means  dan- 
ger^ another  all  right . Sometimes  when  a train  is 

coming  to  a sharp  curve  in  the  line,  the  engine  driver 
sees  a signal,  which  means,  “ Caution — go  slowly.” 
The  driver  can’t  see  what  is  on  the  other  side  of  the 
curve,  so  he  is  warned  to  proceed  with  caution.  Now,, 
my  children,  our  way  of  life  is  full  of  curves,  and  we 
cannot  see  what  is  beyond.  Every  day  is  a sharp  curve, 
for  we  cannot  see  what  is  on  the  other  side  of  it,  what 
to-morrow  will  be  like.  Whenever  you  go  into  a new 
place,  or  among  new  people,  there’s  a sharp  curve  in- 
die line,  you  don’t  know  what  awaits  you.  What  does 
the  signal  tell  you  ? “ Caution , go  slowly 

There  is  another  signal,  which  is  a red  flag,  and  that 
always  means  one  thing — “ Danger,  stop  !”  I will  tell 


8 


Cf)tltrrai’£  23rcatr. 


you  how  a little  child  once  saved  a train  by  showing  the 
danger  signal.  A train  was  travelling,  on  a certain  line 
in  America,  through  a wild  and  mountainous  country, 
and  as  it  came  round  one  of  the  curves,  of  which  I 
told  you,  the  driver  saw  a little  boy  ahead  of  him, 
waving  his  hat,  and  holding  up  his  arms  as  a danger 
signal.  The  train  was  stopped  within  a few  feet  of  a 
mass  of  rock  which  had  fallen  on  the  line,  and  which 
would  have  thrown  carriages,  passengers  and  all,  over 
a precipice.  There  are  many  times  in  our  lives  when 
we  need  to  look  out  for  the  danger  signal.  When 
you  get  into  bad  company,  when  you  boys  fall  in  with 
those  who  swear,  or  tell  bad  stories,  or  waste  their 
time  at  the  tavern,  then  look  out  for  the  danger  signal, 
and  remember  what  it  means — Stop  ! 

When  you  girls  are  tempted  by  others  to  disobey 
your  mother,  to  run  about  with  those  who  mean  you 
no  good,  or  to  spend  your  wages  on  useless  finery,  then 
look  for  the  danger  signal,  it  says,  “ Stop,  or  you’ll  be 
ruined.”  Do  you  ask  who  will  show  you  these  signals  ? 
I answer  God  will.  God  will  speak  to  you  by  the 
voice  of  conscience,  telling  you  when  you  are  in  dan- 
ger, warning  you  when  you  are  going  wrong.  Whenever 
you  have  an  uncomfortable  feeling  that  all  is  not  right 
with  you,  that  you  are  not  quite  happy,  that  is  God 
showing  you  a signal,  saying,  “ take  heed  to  your  ways,” 
bidding  you  stop  on  the  path  of  danger.  When  you 


212Eatttns*E00m. 


9 


read  your  Bible,  you  will  see  many  signals  shown  to 
you.  The  services  of  the  Church  and  the  lessons  of 
your  teachers  are  all  signals  for  your  guidance.  Don’t 
neglect  them,  dear  children,  for  to  neglect  a danger 
signal  means  ruin.  Try  also  to  show  the  signal  to  each 
other.  If  you  see  a companion  going  in  the  wrong 
way,  try  to  show  him  the  danger  signals.  Every 
Christian  child  should  try  to  help  his  fellows  on  to 
Heaven.  Sometimes  we  read  in  the  newspapers  how 
some  wicked  person  has  placed  a bar  or  stone  or  some 
other  obstruction  on  the  railway,  with  the  hope  of 
wrecking  the  train.  If  this  obstruction  is  discovered  in 
time  the  red  flag  is  shown,  and  the  train  is  stopped. 
There  are  many  such  dangers  in  our  journey.  Satan 
puts  different  obstacles  in  our  way,  trying  to  throw  us 
off  the  line  of  duty.  Temptations,  bad  thoughts,  the 
example  of  wicked  children,  are  all  stumbling  blocks 
put  in  your  way.  Take  good  heed  then  to  the  red 
signal,  and  help  to  warn  others  also.  I read  once  of  a 
poor  madman  in  an  Asylum,  who  was  always  repeating 
the  same  words — “ Oh  ! if  I only  had  ! ” He  had  been 
a signalman  at  a railway  bridge,  which  opened  over  a 
river.  When  the  bridge  was  swung  open,  it  was  his 
duty  to  show  the  danger  signal,  and  stop  any  train 
which  was  approaching.  One  night  he  forgot  to  show 
the  red  signal,  the  bridge  was  open,  and  a train  full  of 
people  was  hurled  into  the  river.  The  shock  drove 


10 


Clj c C&tUJrcn’jS  meats. 


the  poor  man  out  of  his  senses,  and  he  always  said  the 
same  sad  words.  If  we  neglect  to  look  for  the  signal 
which  God  shows  to  us,  or  if  we  fail  to  warn  others, 
we  may  be  forced  to  think  and  say  for  ever — “ Oh  ! if 
I only  had  ! ” 

But  it  is  time  for  us  to  think  of  the  end  of  the 
journey.  All  journeys,  short  or  long,  end  at  last,  and 
if  you  are  God’s  children,  you  know  where  your 
journey  will  terminate,  with  Jesus  in  Paradise.  I once 
saw  a train  come  in  full  of  happy  schoolboys,  going 
home  for  the  holidays.  There  were  friends  and  rela- 
tions waiting  on  the  platform  to  welcome  home  the 
children,  but  one  boy  had  no  friend  to  meet  him,  and 
he  was  crying  bitterly  at  being  thus  forgotten.  Dear 
little  children,  if  you  go  on  life’s  journey  u looking 
unto  Jesus,”  He  will  meet  you  at  the  journey’s  end, 
and  will  take  you  to  that  home  where,  among  the  many 
mansions,  the  children  are  not  forgotten,  and  in  whose 
streets  there  is  no  complaining,  and  the  little  feet  are 
never  weary. 


SERMON  II. 


THE  BEST  BOOK. 

(Sfofant.) 


Psalm  cxix.  72. 

•'The  law  of  my  mouth  is  better  unto  me  than  thousands  of  gold 
and  silver.  ” 

That  is  what  David  said  about  God’s  Word.  David 
had  not  so  big  a Bible  as  we  have,  he  had  only  part  of 
the  Old  Testament,  and  none  of  the  New.  Yet  he 
valued  it  above  thousands  of  gold  and  silver.  I wonder 
if  you  would  say  what  David  said.  Some  of  you  think 
that  you  would  like  to  have  thousands  of  gold  and 
silver.  You  fancy  money  will  do  everything.  , Well, 
money  will  do  a great  deal,  but  it  won’t  do  everything. 
There  are  a great  many  things  which  money  can  buy, 
but  there  are  some  things  which  money  cannot  buy 


12 


OTje  Cfjtnjrai’tf  23reaU. 


and  which  we  can  only  get  from  God’s  Word.  Money 
will  buy  you  a house  and  lands,  but  it  won’t  buy  you 
happiness.  There  have  been  many  who  have  lived  in 
grand  houses,  and  worn  soft  clothing,  and  yet  have 
never  been  happy,  and  have  been  afraid  to  die.  Now 
God’s  Book  will  teach  you  how  to  be  happy,  and  it  will 
show  you  how  you  may  have  a home  eternal  in  the 
Heavens,  without  money  and  without  price.  It  is  only 
the  children  of  the  rich  who  have  lands  and  houses  to 
inherit,  but  God’s  word  tells  everyone  of  you,  no  matter 
how  poor  you  are,  that  you  have  an  estate  to  come 
into,  a property  to  hold.  In  Baptism  you  were  made 
children  of  God,  members  of  Christ,  and  inheritors  of 
the  Kingdom  of  Heaven.  No  money  can  buy  those 
blessings  for  you. 

Once  upon  a time,  a powerful  king  built  a very 
beautiful  city,  with  glittering  palaces,  and  noble  streets, 
and  high  towers,  and  gardens  full  of  fruit  and  flowers. 
When  the  city  was  finished,  the  king  invited  all  his 
subjects  to  enter  in.  When  they  came  to  the  city,  they 
found  that  the  gates  were  so  low  and  narrow  that  they 
could  not  pass  them.  One  was  hindered  by  his  fine, 
clothes,  which  quite  filled  up  the  narrow  gateway. 
Another  carried  so  much  luggage  that  he  could  not 
pass  through  ; and  one  lifted  his  head  so  high,  that 
he  could  not  get  it  under  the  lowly  entrance.  But 
whilst  all  the  great  men  and  women  were  thus  kept 


t&fyc  Bcofc. 


la 


outside  the  city,  the  little  children  ran  in  quite  easily. 
At  last  they  asked  a wise  old  man  what  they  must  do,, 
and  he  told  them  that  they  must  become  as  little  chil- 
dren before  they  could  enter  the  city.  Some  of  the 
great  ones  were  very  angry  at  this,  and  went  away  in  a 
rage.  But  others,  who  were  wiser,  cast  away  their  use- 
less burdens  and  ornaments,  and  bent  down  to  the 
ground,  and  so  entered  through  the  gates  into  the  city. 
God’s  Book  tells  us  that  it  is  the  humble  who  shall  be 
exalted,  and  that  unless  we  become  as  little  children, 
meek,  trusting  Jesus,  we  shall  not  enter  into  the  King- 
dom of  Heaven.  Two  little  children  were  once  talking 
together  about  Heaven,  and  the  little  girl  said  to  the 
brother,  “ I know  the  way  to  Heaven.”  “ Do  you 
indeed  ! Then  tell  me  the  way,”  said  the  boy.  And 
the  little  sister  answered  him,  “ You  must  begin  to  go 
up,  and  keep  on  going  up,  and  you  will  get  there,  but 
you  must  be  sure  not  to  turn  back/’  Do  you  remember, 
children,  what  God’s  Word  says  about  the  road  to 
Heaven:  “Strait  is  the  gate,  and  narrow  is  the  way.” 
And  can  you  tell  me  how  we  can  walk  in  that  narrow 
way  which  leads  to  Heaven  ? Jesus  says,  “ I am  the 
Way,  the  Truth,  and  the  Light,  no  man  cometh  unto 
the  Father  but  by  me.”  So  you  see  the  Bible  tell  us 
about  our  home  in  heaven,  and  how  to  get  there, 
surely  that’s  better  than  thousands  of  gold  and  silver  ? 
I told  you  that  money  would  buy  you  a grand  house. 


14 


djc  CfjtUrmt'g  3Srcatr. 


but  could  not  make  you  happy.  Well,  God’s  Word 
will  teach  you  how  to  make  your  home,  whether  it  be 
small  or  great,  rich  or  poor,  a happy  home . The  best 
home  to  live  in  is  one  where  God  dwells,  and  gives 
“ the  peace  of  God  which  passeth  all  understanding ; ” 
a home  where  people  pray,  where  they  speak  gently 
one  to  another,  where  they  love  one  another ; God’s 
Word  will  teach  you  how  to  make  your  home  like  this, 
and  that  is  better  than  thousands  of  gold  and  silver. 

Again,  money  will  bring  you  all  kinds  of  comforts 
and  luxuries,  but  it  can’t  give  you  health,  or  make  you 
good.  Delicate  food  is  of  no  use  to  us  if  we  have  not 
got  the  appetite  to  enjoy  it.  Fine  clothes  are  worthless 
to  a poor  cripple  who  must  lie  in  bed.  But  what  money 
cannot  do,  God’s  Word  can  ; it  will  teach  you  how  to 
bear  sickness,  or  any  other  trouble : it  will  teach  you 
how  to  say,  “ Thy  will  be  done.’*'  And  I said,  money 
can’t  make  you  good.  A little  boy  was  once  asked 
what  holiness  meant;  and  he  answered,  “It  means 
being  clean  inside .”  No  money  can  make  you  clean 
inside?  y God’s  word  will  show  you  that  “the  Blood  of 
Christ  cleanseth  from  all  sin,”  and  it  will  teach  you  to 
pray  like  this  : “ Make  me  a clean  heart,  O God,  and 
renew  a right  spirit  within  me.” 

Money  will  bring  us  many  friends  and  acquaintances, 
but  not  of  the  best  kind.  I remember  when  I was  at 
School,  if  my  friends  sent  me  a hamper  of  good  things, 


&f)c  %z$t  $aaft. 


15 


or  some  money,  I found  I had  many  more  friends  just 
then  than  I had  before.  But  when  the  money  was 
spent,  and  the  hamper  was  empty,  I soon  missed  my 
new  friends.  The  kind  of  friendship  which  money 
buys  is  not  worth  having.  But  God’s  Word  will  tell 
you  about  a Friend  who  is  always  true  and  faithful. 
You  all  know  who  that  Friend  is  ? “ Jesus  Christ,  the 

same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  for  ever.”  I want  you,  my 
children,  to  learn  to  love  your  Bible,  and  to  value  it, 
and  respect  it.  Sometimes  I have  seen  leaves  torn  out 
of  God’s  Book,  and  thrown  into  the  road.  It  always 
grieves  me  to  see  this,  for  it  shpws  that  people  don’t 
respect  their  Bible.  Of  course  the  leaves  of  that  Book 
are  only  paper  and  print,  like  those  of  any  other  work, 
but  the  Words  are  the  Words  of  God,  and  we  ought  to 
reverence  them.  Try  to  make  a friend  of  your  Bible. 
Do  not  look  at  it  as  a lesson  Book,  but  as  a treasury 
full  of  precious  gems,  as  a gallery  full  of  wonderful 
pictures,  as  a garden  of  flowers  planted  by  God’s  Hand. 

I have  heard  of  a poor  blind  girl  who  had  one  of  the 
Gospels  given  to  her  printed  in  raised  letters.  She  used 
to  read  with  the  ends  of  her  fingers,  as  blind  people  do. 
By  and  by,  with  constant  use,  the  tips  of  her  fingers 
grew  hard,  and  she  could  not  tell  the  letters  by  her 
touch.  The  poor  girl  cut  the  skin  from  the  ends  of  her 
fingers,  but  that  only  made  matters  worse.  So  finding 
she  could  not  read  her  beloved  Book  any  more,  she 


1 G 


Ojc  Cinnrrfii^  Slrca^r. 


said  “Good  bye”  to  it,  and  pressed  it  to  her  lips.  To 
her  surprise,  she  found  that  her  lips,  more  delicate  than 
her  fingers,  could  feel  the  shape  of  the  letters,  and  her 
love  was  rewarded,  for  she  could  read  her  Bible  once 
more.  Have  you  ever  seen  a pretty  toy  called  a 
Kaleidoscope.  When  you  hold  it  to  your  eye,  and 
turn  it  round,  you  see  a number  of  pieces  of  coloured 
glass,  which  form  all  kinds  of  beautiful  patterns,  such 
as  stars,  and  crowns,  and  fountains,  and  flowers.  Now 
I think  the  Bible  is  very  like  a Kaleidoscope.  When 
you  look  carefully  into  it,  the  more  you  turn  over  its 
pages  and  study  them,  the  more  beautiful  things  you 
find  there  ; and  remember  that  all  these  beautiful 
things  will  show  you  something  about  Jesus.  Whether 
you  are  reading  the  Old  Testament  or  the  New, 
whether  you  study  the  Law  or  the  Prophets,  or  read 
about  the  Judges,  or  the  Kings,  you  will  find  something 
about  Jesus.  He  said  “ Search  the  Scriptures,  for  they 
are  they  which  testify  of  Me.”  Whenever  you  read 
your  Bible,  always  do  so  with  one  object,  always  read 
looking  for  Jesus  Christ . And  you  who  are  growing  up 
into  big  boys  and  girls,  take  care  how  you  neglect  your 
Bible  when  you  go  out  into  the  world. 

There  was  once  a sailor  boy  who  had  a good  mother, 
one  who  taught  him  to  pray,  and  to  read  God’s  Word. 
When  he  came  home  from  a voyage  he  found  that  his 
mother  was  dead,  and  when  he  went  to  sea  again  he 


&f)?  23c£t  iBook. 


17 


fell  among  bad  companions,  and  in  time  quite  neg- 
lected his  prayers  and  his  Bible.  One  day  there  was 
to  be  a grand  merry-making  on  board  his  ship,  and  the 
young  sailor  went  to  his  chest  to  take  out  his  holiday 
clothes.  As  he  tumbled  the  things  out  of  his  chest, 
he  saw  a Book  which  had  long  lain  neglected  at  the 
very  bottom  of  the  box.  The  boy  took  it  up,  and  a 
folded  paper  dropped  from  between  the  pages.  He 
opened  the  paper,  and  saw  a lock  of  grey  hair,  and 
written  underneath,  in  his  sister’s  hand,  “ this  is  our 
mother’s  hair,  her  dying  prayer  was  that  you  might  love 
God’s  Word.”  Then  the  sailor  boy  remembered  with 
shame  that  he  never  had  opened  his  Bible,  and  scarcely 
said  a prayer  since  his  mother  died.  He  seemed  to  see 
his  dear  mother  looking  at  him  reproachfully,  and  he 
knelt  down  beside  his  sea  chest,  and  prayed  for  pardon, 
and  strength  to  amend. 

My  children,  make  much  of  your  Bible,  and  you  will 
find  that  David  was  quite  right  when  he  said,  “the  law 
of  Thy  mouth  is  better  unto  me  than  thousands  of 
gold  and  silver.” 


SERMON  III. 


A CHRISTMA  S IN  VITA  TION. 

(Cfirfetmatf.) 


S.  Matthew  xi.  28. 
“Come  unto  Me.’* 


What  shall  I speak  to  you  about,  my  children,  on  this 
glad  Christmas  Day  ? I will  speak  about  a Christmas 
invitation.  This  is  the  time  when  families  meet  together 
at  home,  and  ask  their  friends  to  join  them ; and  often 
the  children  are  allowed  to  invite  their  school-fellows 
and  playmates  to  their  houses.  Perhaps  some  of  you 
have  had  an  invitation  of  this  sort.  But  I am  going  to 
tell  you  of  another  invitation  ; everyone  of  you  has 
been  invited  by  the  Holy  Child  Jesus,  the  Son  of  God, 
to  go  somewhere  to-day.  Can  you  guess  where  ? To 


& Cijrtetma*  SEmutattcm. 


19 


Bethlehem.  Yes,  to  Bethlehem.  What  does  that  name 
mean  ? The  House  of  Bread.  Do  you  know  why  it 
was  so  called?  Because  of  the  many  cornfields  which 
were  round  about  it.  Yes,  that  was  one  reason,  and 
there  is  another  reason  why  the  House  of  Bread  was  a 
good  name  for  it.  Jesus  Christ,  who  was  born  there, 
calls  Himself  the  Bread  of  Life.  Well,  to-day  we  have 
an  invitation  from  the  Lord  Jesus  to  go  even  unto 
Bethlehem.  He  says,  “Come  to  me.”  He  bids  us 
come  to  Him  at  different  times  and  different  places. 
At  Christmas  and  Epiphany  He  bids  us  come  to  Him 
as  a little  child  at  Bethlehem.  In  Lent  He  calls  us  to 
Him  in  the  wilderness,  and  tells  us  to  fast,  and  to 
watch  and  pray,  lest  we  enter  into  temptation.  On 
Good  Friday  He  calls  us  to  Calvary,  and  bids  us  take 
up  our  Cross,  and  follow  Him.  * Where  does  Jesus 
invite  us  on  Easter  Day  ? To  a garden,  and  to  a 
grave,  where  the  stone  is  rolled  away,  and  He  tells  us 
that  because  He  is  risen  from  the  dead,  we  shall  rise 
also..  Then  on  Ascension  Day  He  invites  us  to  a 
mountain  to  see  Him  go  up  to  Heaven  ; and  He  is 
always  asking  us  to  turn  our  thoughts  and  wishes 
upwards  to  that  Heaven,  and  so  that  one  day  He  may 
invite  us  to  come  to  Him  there,  and  “to  be  ever  with 
the  Lord.”  Well,  to-day  we  must  think  of  the  child 
Christ’s  invitation  to  you  children  to  go  to  Bethlehem. 
We  cannot  of  course  travel  to-day  to  that  stable  among 


20 


CTIjc  CTjtftfrnt’g  Brcatf. 


the  wild  hills.  Yet  in  one  sense  we  can  go  there.  I 
left  the  home,  where  I lived  as  a child,  many  years  ago. 
The  place  is  all  changed  now,  yet  I often  go  there.  I 
go  there  in  memory , I picture  all  the  days  when  I 
lived  there  as  a boy.  We  can  take  our  thoughts  and 
feelings  to  a place,  although  we  cannot  take  our  bodies. 
Let  us  in  heart  and  mind  go  “ even  unto  Bethlehem. ” 
What  are  we  going  there  for?  To  worship  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  But  He  is  a king  is  He  not,  King  of 
kings,  and  Lord  of  lords  ? Is  it  easy  to  get  into  a 
king’s  presence  ? No  indeed,  if  you  wished  to  visit  the 
Queen  you  would  find  it  very  difficult,  almost  impossible. 
Those  who  are  allowed  to  see  the  Queen  have  to  obey 
certain  rules,  and  to  wear  a particular  dress,  and  the 
gates  and  doors  of  her  palace  are  carefully  closed  and 
guarded.  But  there  will  be  nothing  to  stop  us  from 
coming  to  Jesus  except  what  we  make  ourselves.  We 
can  shut  ourselves  out,  no  one  else  will  If  you  get  into 

a passion,  that  bad  temper  will  be  a door  between  you 
and  Jesus.  If  you  act  cruelly  and  spitefully  to  another 
child,  that  makes  a door  between  you  and  Jesus.  Then 
you  must  be  properly  dressed.  The  court  dress  at  the 
Queen’s  Palace  is  a very  grand  affair,  and  costs  more 
money  than  most  of  us  can  afford.  The  dress  which 
you  must  wear  if  you  go  to  Jesus,  will  not  cost  any 
money.  What  is  it  called ? Is  it  pride?  No,  that’s 
far  too  gaudy  and  showy  a dress  ; people  who  wear 


$ C-ftr&tmatf  Htbttattan. 


21 


that  are  thinking  more  about  their  clothes  than  about 
Jesus.  The  dress  you  must  wear  must  be  very  clean, 
and  simple,  and  unassuming,  and  it  is  called  humility . 

And  then  I think  you  ought  to  take  some  present  to 
Jesus.  Everyone  gives  presents  at  Christmas  time. 
Jesus  has  given  you  presents,  life,  and  health,  and 
parents,  and  brothers,  and  sisters,  and  a beautiful 
world ; and  He  promises  you  something  more,  a bright 
and  glorious  home  in  Heaven,  and  “ such  good  things 
as  pass  man’s  understanding.”  Won’t  you  take  a pre- 
sent to  Jesus  ? Do  you  know  what  He  values  most — 
your  love.  The  best  Christmas  present  to  the  Holy 
Child  Jesus  is  a little  child’s  love.  And  remember, 
dear  children,  you  must  show  your  love,  not  merely 
talk  about  it.  Show  it  by  trying  to  be  good  children, 
by  watching  over  your  words  and  tempers.  Show  it 
by  being  kind  and  gentle  to  others — to  your  parents, 
your  teachers,  your  school-mates.  When  you  show 
love  to  one  another  you  show  love  to  Jesus.  Show  it 
by  doing  something  for  His  Church,  and  His  poor. 
When  you  gather  a bunch  of  flowers  to  place  on  the 
Altar,  that’s  a loving  gift  to  Jesus.  When  you  give 
up  some  of  your  playtime  to  visit  a sick  friend, 
that’s  a loving  gift  to  Jesus.  ' Every  time  you  sing 
a hymn,  meaning  what  you  sing,  you  offer  a loving 
gift  of  praise  to  Jesus.  Every  time  you  deny  yourself, 
and  instead  of  spending  your  money  in  toys  and  sweet- 


22 


CIjtl3Jrai’£  Brcatt. 


meats  you  give  it  to  the  poor  and  needy,  that’s  a loving 
gift  to  Jesus.  When  you  bear  any  wrong  or  injury 
patiently,  you  are  making  a very  loving  present  to 
Jesus.  I wonder  if  you  ever  heard  how  a brave  girl 
bore  insult  for  Jesus’  sake?  She  was  one  of  the  little 
Sisters  of  the  Poor,  who  go  about  begging  for  money 
and  broken  food  and  cast-off  clothes  for  the  very 
needy.  One  day  she  asked  help  from  one  who  was 
rich,  and  by  position  at  least  a gentleman.  He  had  a 
dislike  to  sisterhoods,  and  after  roughly  refusing  to 
give,  at  last  he  even  struck  the  sister.  She  only  said, 
very  gently,  “ That  was  for  myself,  now  won’t  you  give 
me  something  for  my  poor  ?”  And  the  man  was 
so  ashamed  of  himself  that  he  gave  a liberal  present. 

And  now,  my  children,  I want  you  all  to  ask  the 
Lord  Jesus  to  take  you  by  the  hand,  and  lead  you.  Do 
you  remember  a chapter  in  Isaiah  which  tells  us  that  a 
time  shall  come  when  the  fierce  beasts  shall  be  tame 
and  gentle,  and  “ a little  child  shall  lead  them  ?”  In 
one  sense  that  prophecy  has  been  fulfilled.  The  little 
Child  who  was  born  on  Christmas  Day  has  changed 
the  history  of  the  world.  Before  Christ  came  the  world 
was  full  of  fierce  and  cruel  nations,  more  savage  than 
the  wild  beasts.  Satan  ruled  over  the  heathen,  making 
them  bloodthirsty  and  violent,  teaching  the  strong  to 
trample  on  the  weak,  leading  the  powerful  to  make 
slaves  of  the  feeble.  Jesus  came,  and  brought  the 


Q <£f)rt3tma£  iubttattnu. 


23 


light  of  truth  into  the  world,  and  it  was  changed.  Fierce 
men  became  gentle,  proud  men  became  humble,  a 
little  child  was  leading  them.  There  are  plenty  of 
cruel  and  proud  people  among  us  now,  but  it  is  because 
they  won’t  let  Jesus  lead  them.  I saw  a little  child 
once  walking  with  his  father ; he  was  but  a tiny  little 
creature,  and  as  he  tried  to  run  alone  he  fell.  Then 
his  Father  lifted  him  up,  and  said  so  lovingly,  “ Take 
hold  of  Father’s  hand.”  That  is  what  we  all  ought  to 
do,  children  and  grown  people,  we  can’t  walk  alone 
through  this  world,  we  must  take  hold  of  God’s  Hand. 
When  you  are  tempted  to  do  wrong,  to  get  into  a 
passion  perhaps,  or  strike  a playfellow,  then  whisper 
this  little  prayer,  “Jesus,  take  me  by  the  hand,  make 
me  gentle.”  I have  heard  of  two  children,  brother  and 
sister,  who  loved  each  other  very  dearly.  The  boy, 
who  was  the  elder  of  the  two,  fell  ill,  and  died.  When 
he  was  laid  out  on  his  bed,  his  mother  took  the 
little  girl  to  see  her  brother.  As  she  stood  looking  at 
his  sweet  face,  white  and  cold  as  marble,  she  said, 
“ Mother,  may  I take  hold  of  his  hand  ?”  Then  lifting 
the  dead  white  hand,  and  stroking  it  gently,  the  sister 
said,  “ This  little  hand  never  struck  me.” 

If  you  would  keep  your  hands  from  sinning,  ask 
Jesus  to  take  you  by  the  hand,  and  lead  you.  You 
know  He  has  promised  to  be  always  with  you.  Long 
before  the  first  Christmas  Day  the  prophet  Isaiah  fore- 


24 


<£t)C  CfnlUrni’ia  23rcaU. 


told  that  a Child  should  be  born,  and  He  was  to  have 
a special  name,  can  you  tell  me  what  it  was  ? 
Emmanuel,  that  is,  God  with  us . Remember  that 

you  can  never  hide  froin  Jesus.  If  you  love  Him,  and 
ask  Him  to  lead  you,  He  will  take  you  by  the  hand. 
If  you  sin  against  Him,  break  His  laws,  and  take  His 
Name  in  vain,  He  is  still  Emmanuel ; you  can’t  shut 
God  out  of  your  work,  or  your  play.  He  knows  all 
that  you  do,  and  say,  and  think.  To  Him  “all  hearts 
are  open,  all  desires  known,  and  from  Him  no  secrets 
are  hid.”  Jesus  is  with  you  in  school-time,  and  He  knows 
how  you  use  your  time,  and  the  talents  which  God  has 
given  you.  Jesus  is  with  you  when  you  go  out  to  work 
in  the  fields,  or  the  shop,  and  He  knows  if  you  are 
honest  and  industrious,  and  He  hears  all  the  bad 
words  : remember  that  when  you  are  tempted  to  speak 
them.  Jesus  is  with  you  always,  even  unto  the  end  of 
the  world,  and  He  will  always  be  your  friend  if  you 
will  have  Him.  He  calls  to  us  to-day,  as  it  were,  from 
the  poor  manger,  and  says,  “Come  unto  Me,  learn  of  Me, 
for  I am  meek  and  lowly  in  heart.”  He  calls  to  you  older 
children,  who  have  been  confirmed.  He  speaks  to  you 
from  the  Holy  Altar,  where  the  Children’s  Bread  is 
given  in  the  Blessed  Bethlehem  of  the  Church,  and  He 
gives  His  Christmas  invitation,  “ Come  unto  Me.” 

And  the  day  will  come,  my  children,  when  we  shall 
no  more  keep  Christmastide  on  earth,  nor  listen  to  the 


% Cf)rt»tma*  3Eubttattatx. 


25 


joy  bells  ringing  in  the  tower.  We  shall  not  need  to  go 
in  memory  to  Bethlehem  of  Judea,  for  we  shall  look  on 
the  better  Bethlehem  above,  where  Jesus,  the  Bread  of 
Heaven,  the  Children’s  Bread,  shall  feed  us  till  we 
want  no  more,  in  that  “ dear,  dear  country,”  where  the 
children  shall  be  “safe  in  the  Arms  of  Jesus.” 


SERMON  IV. 


THE  POWER  OF  THE  DOG. 
(Eent.) 


Psalm  xxii.  20. 

“ Deliver  . . . my  darling  from  the  power  of  the  dog.” 

The  Bible  does  not  generally  speak  well  of  dogs. 
The  word  dog  in  the  Scriptures  often  means  a 
wicked  person.  It  has  that  meaning  in  my  text. 
David  is  speaking  in  this  twenty* second  Psalm  as  a 
prophet,  and  he  foretells  the  sufferings  of  our  Saviour. 
When  he  says,  “ Deliver  my  darling  from  the  power 
of  the  dog,”  it  is  a prayer  that  God  would  deliver  His 
only  Son  from  the  hands  of  wicked  men.  In  Eastern 
countries  dogs  are  reckoned  as  unclean  animals,  and 
there  if  you  want  to  give  a man  a bad  name  you  call 


CIj t iDclucr  of  tlje  23og;. 


27 


him  a dog.  But  there  are  good  dogs  and  bad  dogs, 
dogs  to  be  trusted,  and  dogs  to  be  avoided.  Let  us 
think  about  the  good  dogs  first.  Most  of  you  have 
read  the  beautiful  story  of  the  hound  Gelert.  You  will 
remember  that  Gelert’ s master  left  him  one  day,  in  his 
hut  in  the  forest,  to  take  care  of  a little  child  sleeping 
in  his  cradle.  When  the  man  came  home  from  hunt- 
ing, he  found  the  hut,  in  confusion.  The  furniture 
thrown  about,  the  cradle  upset,  the  child  gone,  and 
the  hound  lying  on  the  floor  with  marks  of  fresh  blood 
upon  his  mouth  and  paws.  There  were  also  stains  of 
blood  about  the  room.  Then  the  poor  father  thought 
that  the  dog  must  have  killed  and  devoured  the  baby, 
and  he  took  his  hunting  spear,  and  stuck  it  through 
the  dog’s  body.  The  hound  looked  at  him  with  sad 
reproachful  eyes,  then  shivered,  and  died.  When  his 
master  came  to  look  about  the  hut,  he  found  the  dead 
body  of  a wolf  lying  in  a corner,  and  in  another  corner 
was  the  child,  safe  and  sleeping.  Thus  the  hunter 
knew  too  late  that  Gelert  had  been  faithful,  and  it  was 
the  wolfs  blood  and  his  own  with  which  he  was  stained. 
That,  my  children,  was  a good  dog. 

Then  there  was  another  good  dog  in  France.  One 
day,  when  he  and  his  master  were  travelling  through 
the  forest  of  Bondy,  some  men  set  upon  his  master, 
and  killed  him,  and  buried  his  body  out  in  the  forest. 
The  dog  went  to  the  town  where  he  lived,  and  found 


28 


CIjc  ffl&fltomW  3Brca». 


out  the  friends  of  his  dead  master,  and  tried  to  make 
them  follow  him.  At  first  they  took  little  notice  of  him, 
but  the  dog  took  hold  of  one  by  his  coat,  and  tried  to 
pull  him  along.  Then  they  followed  him  to  the  forest, 
and  the  dog  showed  them  where  the  master’s  body  was 
buried,  and  afterwards  helped  to  discover  the  murder- 
ers. That  was  another  good  dog.  Perhaps  some  of 
you  have  read  Scott’s  beautiful  story  of  The  Talisman , 
in  which  he  tells  us  about  Roswal,  the  noble  deer- 
hound of  the  Scottish  Knight,  who  kept  guard  over  the 
English  Standard,  and  afterwards  discovered  who  had 
insulted  it  ? That  was  another  good  dog.  Then  there 
are  the  dogs  of  St.  Bernard,  of  which  you  have  all 
heard.  They  go  out  among  the  snow  and  ice  on  the 
bleak  mountain,  and  find  the  travellers  who  are  lost  in 
the  snow,  that  the  monks  of  St.  Bernard  may  give  them 
shelter  in  the  monastery.  And  there  are  the  blind 
men’s  dogs,  which  you  see  about  the  streets,  leading 
their  masters  carefully  along,  and  holding  a basket  or  a 
tin  mug  in  their  mouth,  that  people  may  drop  their 
money  in. 

These  are  all  good  dogs,  but  there  are  some  bad 
dogs,  of  whom  we  must  beware,  and  I am  going  to  talk 
to  you  about  them.  What  ought  we  specially  to  think 
about  in  Lent  ? About  our  Lord’s  Fasting  and  Temp- 
tation. Yes,  but  there  is  something  more  for  us  to 
think  of,  our  own  sins  and  temptations,  and  how  to 


&i)£  nf  t T)C  230jj* 


29 


conquer  them.  That  is  what  I mean  when  I tell  you 
there  are  several  bad  dogs  of  which  we  must  beware. 
Let  us  think  of  some  of  their  names. 

First  of  all  there  is  a dog  called  Sulky . Can  you  tell 
me  what  colour  he  is  ? Black.  Yes,  very  black  indeed. 
I remember,  when  I was  a little  boy,  my  dear  mother 
used  to  tell  me  not  to  let  the  black  dog  get  on  my 
shoulder,  that  is,  not  to  be  sulky.  When  a child  is 
bitten  by  that  black  dog,  his  face  becomes  quite 
changed.  It  growrs  dark,  and  heavy,  and  ugly.  No 
matter  how  good-looking  a child  may  be,  directly  the 
dog  Sulky  bites  him  all  his  beauty  is  gone.  And  the 
child’s  character  is  altered  too.  He  becomes  stubborn, 
obstinate,  he  won’t  do  his  work,  and  he  won’t  play. 
He  does  not  look  you  honestly  in  the  face  as  he  once 
did,  he  turns  his  eyes  down  to  the  ground.  And 
the  child’s  speech  is  altered  too.  He  does  not 
answer  civilly  and  frankly  as  he  used  to  do.  The 
sound  of  his  voice  is  quite  different,  and  he  keeps 
muttering  to  himself  such  words  as,  “ I shan’t — I don’t 
care.”  No  one  can  be  happy  with  a sulky  person,  and 
no  one  is  more  unhappy  than  the  sulky  one  himself. 
Oh ! my  children,  beware  of  that  black  dog,  don’t  let 
him  bite  you. 

Then  there  is  another  dog  called  Passion . Do  you 
know  what  colour  that  dog  is  ? Red.  Yes,  a very 


30 


Che  €1)  tltrr en’g  23rca3r. 


fiery  red  dog,  with  gleaming,  cruel  eyes,  and  foaming 
mouth.  If  he  bites  you,  he  sends  you  mad  for  a time. 
The  old  Romans  were  quite  right  when  they  called 
anger  a short  madness.  If  you  see  a child  with  a very 
red  face,  kicking  and  stamping  and  screaming,  you  may 
be  sure  that  the  fierce  dog  Passion  has  bitten  him. 

It  is  a sad  sight,  children,  one  of  the  saddest  of  all 
sights,  to  see  anyone  in  a passion.  Can  you  tell  me  what 
the  word  Passion  means  ? When  we  speak  of  our  dear 
Saviour’s  Passion,  we  don’t  mean  anger,  do  we?  No, 
we  mean  His  suffering.  Well,  when  you  get  angry  you 
suffer  yourself,  and  you  make  others  suffer,  so  your 
furious  anger  is  called  passion.  Yes,  people  in  a passion 
suffer  whilst  the  fit  lasts,  and  suffer  still  more  after  it 
is  gone,  for  it  is  sure  to  leave  some  bad  consequences. 
Men  have  killed  their  dearest  friends  in  a moment  of 
passion.  You  have  heard,  I dare  say,  of  Alexander 
the  Great,  who  sat  down  and  cried  because  there  was 
only  one  world  for  him  to  conquer.  In  a famous 
battle  Alexander’s  life  was  saved  by  his  friend,  Clitus, 
and  how  do  you  think  he  was  rewarded  ? One  day 
Alexander  was  in  a furious  passion,  and  he  snatched  a 
spear  out  of  the  hands  of  a soldier,  and  killed  the  first 
person  whom  he  met,  and  that  person  was  his  friend 
Clitus.  When  the  king  saw  his  friend  lying  dead  on 
the  ground,  all  his  anger  was  gone,  but  that  would  not 
bring  Clitus  back  to  life.  Then  Alexander  tried  to  kill 


HZ\)t  pcfocr  nf  tlje  ©03. 


31 


himself,  and  when  he  was  prevented,  he  lay  upon  his 
bed  weeping  and  groaning,  I don’t  think,  my  children, 
there  was  anything  very  great  about  him  there.  There 
was  another  conqueror,  of  whom  you  have  heard,  and 
he  was  wiser.  Julius  Caesar,  when  he  was  provoked, 
used  to  say  over  all  the  letters  of  the  Roman  Alphabet 
before  he  gave  an  answer.  Beware  then  of  that  fierce 
dog  Passion.  Remember  what  Solomon,  the  wise  man 
says  about  anger,  I wonder  if  you  could  tell  me  the 
text  ? “ He  that  is  slow  to  anger  is  better  than  the 

mighty ; and  he  that  ruleth  his  spirit  than  he  that  taketh 
a city.” 

There  is  another  dog  of  which  you  must  beware. 
He  is  called  Idle . You  never  see  this  dog  doing  any- 
thing useful.  You  never  find  him  carrying  a basket  or 
a bundle,  as  some  good  dogs  will.  You  never  see  him 
keeping  guard  over  his  master’s  goods,  or  minding  the 
sheep,  or  drawing  a sledge,  like  the  clever  dogs  at  the 
North  Pole.  He  lies  in  the  sun  sleeping,  almost  too 
lazy  to  get  up  and  eat  his  food.  Perhaps  you  think 
this  dog  Idle  does  not  do  any  harm.  But  what  good 
does  he  do  ? People  who  never  do  any  good  are  sure 
to  do  some  harm.  Take  care,  children,  not  to  be 
bitten  by  dog  Idle . As  soon  as  he  bites  a child,  the 
boy  or  girl  becomes  heavy  and  slow.  Instead  of  getting 
up  in  the  morning  fresh  and  bright,  with  plenty  of  time 
to  say  his  prayers,  and  start  for  school  after  breakfast. 


32 


£Tjc  CljtlUmx^  23reatr. 


the  child  bitten  by  dog  Idle  gets  up  late,  and  so  begins 
the  day  badly.  Then  his  prayers  are  hurried  over,  or 
left  unsaid.  The  child  is  almost  sure  to  be  late  at 
school,  or  late  at  his  work.  In  school  he  is  sleepy,  or 
inattentive,  and  you  know  where  to  look  for  him,  at  the 
bottom  of  the  class.  If  he  has  a sum  to  do,  he  wants 
someone  to  do  it  for  him.  If  he  has  a lesson  to  pre- 
pare, his  eyes  are  always  wandering  from  his  book,  and 
he  tries  to  make  others  as  idle  as  himself.  When  he 
goes  to  Church  he  often  falls  asleep,  and  when  he  has 
work  to  do  you  never  see  him  put  two  hands  to  it. 
The  only  thing  he  cares  for  is  play,  and  very  often  he 
is  too  idle  even  for  that.  Do  you  remember  the  old 
story  of  the  idle  boy  who  went  out  one  summer  morn- 
ing to  find  a playfellow  ? First  he  met  a horse,  and 
asked  him  to  come  and  play  with  him.  But  the  horse 
told  him  that  he  must  go  and  carry  his  master  on  a 
journey.  Next  the  boy  saw  a dog,  and  he  invited  him 
to  be  his  playmate  ; but  the  dog  answered  that  he  must 
go  and  drive  the  sheep  to  the  pasture.  So  the  idle  boy 
went  on,  wondering  why  everyone  had  some  work  to 
do.  Presently  he  saw  a bee  flying  along  and  humming 
as  he  went.  The  child  begged  him  to  come  and  play 
with  him,  but  the  bee  would  scarcely  spare  time  to  tell 
him  that  he  was  busy  making  honey  for  the  winter. 
He  watched  the  tiny  ants,  and  saw  they  were  all  work- 
ing. He  tried  to  make  a bird  his  playfellow,  but  it  was 


^afcoer  af  fyz  13 03. 


33 


busy  feeding  its  little  ones,  and  last  of  all  the  child 
rested  by  a babbling  stream,  and  asked,  “Will  you 
come  and  play  with  me  ?”  The  stream  led  him  along 
for  many  a mile,  and  showed  him  the  work  which  it 
had  to  do.  At  one  place  it  bathed  the  dark  green  water- 
cress, and  at  another  it  nourished  the  blue  forget-me- 
not.  Sometimes  it  turned  a mill  wheel,  and  ground 
the  corn.  Sometimes  it  sent  little  side  streams  to  water 
a meadow,  and  by  and  by  it  joined  a great  river,  and 
helped  to  carry  ships  out  to  the  wide  sea.  Then  the 
little  boy  came  home  very  sadly,  having  learnt  that 
there  is  no  place  for  idle  people  in  God’s  great  world. 
Dear  children,  beware  of  Dog  Idle . Do  whatever  you 
have  to  do  heartily . Do  you  remember  a text  about 
that?  “Whatsoever  thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  do  it 
with  thy  might.”  Whether  you  are  learning,  or  work- 
ing, or  praying,  do  it  heartily.  God  only  helps  those 
who  help  themselves. 

The  old  Greek  fable  says,  that  once  a wagoner  was 
driving  a loaded  wagon  along  a muddy  lane,  and  the 
wheels  stuck  fast.  Then  the  man  prayed  the  strong 
Hercules  to  come  and  help  him.  But  Hercules  told 
him  to  put  his  shoulder  to  the  wheel,  if  he  wanted 
help.  Remember  that  we  must  help  ourselves.  We 
must,  as  the  Spanish  proverb  puts  it — 

11  Pray  to  God  devoutly, 

Hammer  away  stoutly.” 

C 


34 


STfie  ffif)fRrr*ti’£  SSrcatr. 


There  is  another  dog  called  Mischief  \ which  is  very 
dangerous.  You  must  not  think  that  I am  speaking  of 
Fun  and  Merriment , they  are  good  dogs,  which  skip 
and  play  about,  and  do  good,  not  harm.  But  Mischief 
is  sly  and  secret,  he  goes  about  in  dark  places,  and 
is  never  safe  to  meddle  with.  When  a child  is 
bitten  by  dog  Mischief  no  one  can  tell  what  harm  he 
may  do. 

I know  a man  who  is  blind  of  one  eye.  A few  years 
ago  he  could  see  very  well,  but  one  day,  as  he  passed 
through  the  town,  a little  boy  shot  a stone  out  of  a 
catapult,  and  cut  the  man’s  eye  out.  That  child  had 
been  bitten  by  dog  Mischief  and  you  see  what  came  of 
it.  Two  children  got  into  a farm -yard,  among  the  hay 
ricks.  One  showed  the  other  a box  of  matches.  At 
first  they  only  looked  at  them,  then  they  struck  a 
match,  then  another.  — Presently  one  child  held  a 
lighted  match  to  a hay  rick,  and  in  a minute  it  was  on 
fire.  The  wind  blew  the  sparks  about,  and  by  and  by 
not  only  the  hay-ricks  were  burning  but  half  the  village 
as  well.  All  because  the  children  were  bitten  by  that 
dog  Mischief  Sometimes  a whole  train  full  of  pass- 
engers is  thrown  off  the  line  by  a stone  placed  by  a 
child  on  the  rails.  Often  persons  have  been  thrown 
from  their  horses,  and  killed,  because  a mischievous 
child  has  purposely  frightened  the  horse.  Beware  of 
dog  Mischief  Think,  before  you  do  any  mischievous 


Cfjc  of  tljc  S03* 


35 


act,  what  the  consequences  may  be,  what  harm  and 
misery  you  may  cause  to  innocent  people. 

There  is  another  dog  of  which  you  must  beware. 
His  name  is  Careless . He  is  not  so  bad  as  some  dogs, 
at  times  we  can  scarcely  help  liking  him,  and  yet  he 
does  much  harm.  When  a child  is  bitten  by  dog 
Careless  things  go  badly  with  him.  Perhaps,  in  school, 
the  child  is  writing  a copy,  suddenly  he  lets  a great 
drop  of  ink  fall  on  his  copy-book,  and  there  is  a blot. 
Or  perhaps  the  child  is  working  a sum,  he  knows  per- 
fectly well  how  to  do  it,  and  he  takes  up  his  slate  to  the 
master,  expecting  to  be  praised.  The  sum  is  quite 
correctly  worked,  but  the  answer  is  wrong,  the  child 
has  left  out  a figure.  A child,  after  he  has  been  bitten 
by  dog  Careless , says  his  prayers  without  thinking 
what  they  mean,  and  reads  the  Bible  without  under- 
standing it.  When  he  says  his  Collect  in  Sunday 
School,  he  leaves  out  the  chief  sentence,  and  makes  a 
beautiful  prayer  sound  like  nonsense.  Be  on  your 
guard  against  dog  Careless . 

There  are  many  other  dogs  of  which  I could  warn 
you,  but  I will  only  speak  of  two.  There  is  dog 
Selfish , one  of  the  worst  dogs  of  all.  When  we  get  a 
bite  from  him  we  are  never  happy  ourselves,  and  we 
make  others  unhappy  too.  Have  you  ever  read  the 
old  story  of  the  dog  in  the  manger?  It  tells  us  how  a 


36 


Ctjtltrrrn’tf  33 rratf. 


dog  lay  down  in  a manger  of  hay,  and  when  a poor 
hungry  ox  came  to  eat  his  supper  the  dog  began  snap- 
ping at  him.  He  could  not  eat  the  hay  himself,  and 
he  would  not  let  the  ox  eat  it.  That  dog’s  name  is 
Selfish . 

There  is  another  dog  called  Greedy , and  he  is  a very 
near  relation  to  dog  Selfish . Children  are  often  bitten 
by  him,  and  they  generally  suffer,  for  greedy  people  by 
trying  to  get  too  much  often  lose  all.  There  is  a fable 
which  tells  us  how  dog  Greedy  was  one  day  crossing  a 
bridge  over  a river,  and  carrying  a piece  of  meat  in  his 
mouth.  As  he  looked  into  the  water  he  saw  his  own 
shadow.  Thinking  it  was  another  dog,  who  carried  a 
larger  piece  of  meat  than  his  own,  dog  Greedy  flew 
at  him  with  an  angry  bark,  and,  as  he  opened  his 
mouth,  the  meat  fell  into  the  river,  and  was  lost.  So 
it  is  often  with  greedy  people,  because  they  are 
not  contented  with  what  they  have,  they  lose  it 
altogether. 

Now,  dear  children,  these  dogs  of  which  I have 
been  speaking  are  sins  and  temptations.  Who  sends 
them  ? Satan,  the  enemy  of  our  souls.  Is  he  very 
strong  ? Yes,  but  there  is  some  one  stronger.  Jesus 
Christ  is  stronger.  We  know  that  because  He  con- 
quered Satan.  Well,  we  must  be  on  our  guard  against 
these  evil  dogs,  and  we  must  pray  to  God  to  deliver  us 


Ojc  }Dcforr  nf  tljc  23atj. 


37 


His  darlings,  His  children,  from  the  power  of  the  dog. 
Can  you  think  of  the  best  prayer  for  us  to  use  ? Let 
us  say  it  together  now — “Lead  us  not  into  temptation, 
but  deliver  us  from  evil.” 


SERMON  V. 


TWO  KINDS  OF  CLOTHING. 
(Unit.) 


i Peter  v.  5. 

11  Be  clothed  with  humility. 

A new  suit  of  clothes  ! That’s  a subject  in  which  you 
all  take  an  interest.  When  the  baby  passes  from  long 
clothes  to  short  clothes,  you  mothers  remember  the  date 
as  something  very  interesting.  When  a boy  passes 
from  petticoats  to  a jacket  and  trousers  it  is  an  event  in 
his  life.  When  a lad  puts  on  his  first  coat  he  remem- 
bers that  he  is  becoming  a man,  and  must  put  away 
childish  things.  When  a boy  enters  the  army  or  navy, 
he  puts  on  a new  suit  of  clothes,  blue  or  red,  and  that 
reminds  him  that  he  is  bound  to  serve  his  Queen  and 


af  Clntljtmp 


39 


country,  and  that  he  must  not  disgrace  his  uniform. 
When  a choir  boy  comes  into  the  choir,  he  has  a new 
kind  of  clothing  given  to  him,  a white  surplice ; that 
should  always  warn  him  to  try  to  keep  himself  pure 
and  good,  because  he  is  allowed  to  sing  in  the  Church 
on  earth,  as  the  saints  sing  in  the  Church  in  Heaven, 
“ clothed  in  white  robes,  and  palms  in  their  hands.” 
So  you  see,  children,  there  is  a great  deal  of  import- 
ance attaching  to  a suit  of  clothes.  I am  going  to 
speak  to  you  to-day  about  some  different  kinds  of 
clothing,  some  good,  others  bad. 

First  of  all,  let  us  think  of  the  clothes  which  God 
makes  for  his  beautiful  world.  He  clothes  the  grass 
of  the  field.  Go  and  look  at  a pasture-field  in  the 
country,  and  you  will  see  that  God  has  clothed  it  with 
a beautiful  green  robe,  and  every  night  and  morning 
the  greeh  robe  is  all  trimmed  and  spangled  with  dew- 
drops.  Or  there  is  another  field,  blazing  with  yellow- 
buttercups  and  white  daisies,  that’s  the  white  and  gol- 
den clothing  which  God  has  given  to  it.  That  same 
God  dresses  the  woods  in  the  springtime  with  a hun- 
dred different  shades  of  colour,  and  clothes  the  earth 
beneath  with  the  purple  robe  of  wild  hyacinths.  Some- 
times the  good  God  wraps  up  all  the  earth  in  a white 
dress.  That’s  the  snow,  and  underneath  the  roots  and 
seeds  are  quite  warm  and  safe  from  the  frost.  God 
clothes  the  trees,  from  the  great  cedar  of  Lebanon,  to 


40 


0)£  OjtRfrcn^  23mtr. 


the  humble  bramble  bush.  Every  tree  has  a different 
shaped  dress,  and  a different  shade  of  colour.  Even 
in  the  winter,  when  the  trees  look  so  bare  and  cold, 
they  are  still  clothed  by  God.  Trees  have  two  sets  of 
leaves,  one  set  for  the  summer,  the  other  for  the  winter. 
I only  found  that  out  the  other  day,  when  I wras  read- 
ing a wise  book.  The  buds  on  the  branches,  which 
open  into  leaves  in  the  spring,  are  covered  in  winter 
by  little  scales,  like  the  tiles  on  a roof.  And  these 
scales  are  leaves,  and  they  keep  warm  the  other  leaves 
which  are  wrapped  inside  them,  and  will  come  forth  in 
the  spring-time.  Have  you  ever  noticed  that  parts  of 
a beech  or  willow  tree  are  covered  in  winter  with  a 
silky  down,  like  hair,  and  that  the  buds  on  a horse 
chestnut  are  sticky  with  a kind  of  gum  ? Well,  that 
silky  down  and  that  sticky  gum  cover  the  winter 
leaves,  and  makes  them  air  tight,  so  that  the  warmth 
cannot  get  out,  nor  the  cold  come  in.  So  God  clothes 
the  trees. 

And  God  clothes  the  beasts  and  birds  and  gives  each 
exactly  the  sort  of  dress  which  he  requires.  You  have 
all  seen  the  mole-hills  in  a field,  and  sometimes  you 
have  caught  a glimpse  of  the  mole  himself.  Well,  God 
has  clothed  him  in  a dress  like  black  velvet,  which  is 
just  fitted  for  his  home  underground  : and  He  has 
formed  his  feet  like  shovels,  so  that  the  mole  can  dig  a 
tunnel  through  the  earth.  The  animals  which  live  in 


of  Clatljtnij. 


41 


cold  regions  have  a warm  clothing  of  fur,  and  those 
which  live  among  snow  and  ice  are  white,  so  that  their 
enemies  may  not  easily  see  them.  Do  you  know  that 
the  bones  of  birds  are  hollow?  God  makes  them  so 
that  the  birds  may  be  able  to  fly  lightly  in  the  air. 
Some  animals,  like  the  tortoise  and  the  snail,  have  a 
suit  of  armour  to  wear : that  is  given  them  because 
they  cannot  move  fast,  and  escape  from  their  foes.  So 
God  clothes  the  beasts  of  the  field  and  the  fowls  of  the  air. 

Now  let  us  think  about  ourselves.  In  the  Bible  we 
hear  of  two  kinds  of  clothing,  the  best  and  the  worst. 
S.  Peter  says,  “ Be  clothed  with  humility  ; ” that’s  the 
best  clothing.  In  the  hundred  and  ninth  Psalm  we  are 
told  of  a wicked  man  who  “ clothed  himself  with  cursing 
as  with  a garment.’’  That’s  the  worst  clothing.  The 
best  suit  of  clothes  for  a child  of  God  is  humility , for 
Jesus  says,  “ Learn  of  me,  for  I am  meek  and  lowly 
in  heart.”  Can  you  tell  me  of  two  men  mentioned  in 
the  Gospel,  one  of  whom  was  clothed  with  humility, 
and  the  other  with  pride?  Yes,  the  Pharisee  and  the 
Publican.  And  God  listened  to  the  man  who  was 
clothed  with  humility.  What  do  we  sing  in  the  Magni- 
ficat ? “He  hath  exalted  the  humble  and  meek.” 
What  sort  of  place  does  our  Lord  tell  us  to  take  when 
we  are  invited  to  a feast  ? The  lowest  place,  because 
“he  that  exalteth  himself  shall  be  abased.” 

Now  I have  noticed  that  very  often  when  children 


42 


CfuRrren'jg  SSrcatr. 


are  growing  up  into  big  lads  and  girls,  there  is  a great 
change  in  their  manners.  The  little  boy  who  used  to 
go  merrily  to  school  always  had  a bow  for  the  clergy- 
man and  schoolmaster,  and  answered  a question  civilly 
and  kindly.  But  now  that  little  boy  has  grown  up  into 
a big  lad,  neither  a child  nor  a man,  and  his  clothes 
fit  him  badly,  because  he  has  grown  out  of  them.  But 
he  has  grown  out  of  something  else,  and  that  is  the 
clothing  of  humility.  He  thinks  he  is  too  big  to  touch 
his  hat,  too  big  to  give  a civil  answer,  too  big  to  come 
to  Sunday  School  or  Church.  So  he  hangs  about  the 
corners  of  the  streets  or  lanes,  and  he  gets  into  bad 
company,  and  becomes  rough  and  rude,  and  altogether 
objectionable.  All  this  has  come  to  pass  because  he 
thinks  he  has  outgrown  the  clothing  of  humility,  and 
has  cast  it  aside.  He  has  got  another  kind  of  clothing 
instead.  ' Perhaps  he  is  clothed  with  Pride . That’s  a 
bad  sort  of  dress,  my  children.  Although  he  is  still 
quite  a boy,  he  thinks  himself  a man ; and  he  tries  to 
imitate  the  vices  of  a man,  while  he  has  only  the  sense 
of  a child.  He  tells  people  that  he  is  as  good  as  they, 
he  will  not  be  spoken  to,  nor  reproved ; he  talks  very 
loud  when  he  sees  the  clergyman  or  the  schoolmaster 
pass,  to  let  them  know  that  he  does  not  care  for  them. 
Oh  ! my  boys,  don’t  deceive  yourselves,  don’t  make 
this  common  mistake.  There  is  nothing  manly  in 
being  rough,  or  rude,  or  coarse,  or  conceited.  People 


Oau  at  Clcttjtng. 


43 


will  only  look  at  you  with  sorrow,  or  contempt.  Did 
you  ever  hear  the  old  fable  of  the  donkey  who  found  a 
lion’s  skin  ? The  donkey  covered  himself  with  the 
skin,  and  tried  to  play  the  lion,  and  frighten  the  people. 
But  some  of  them  spied  his  long  ears,  and  recognised 
his  well-known  voice,  and  he  was  soon  stripped  of  his 
lion’s  skin,  and  driven  away.  Now,  my  boys,  if  you 
are  tempted  to  put  on  a suit  of  clothes  which  does  not 
become  you,  if  while  still  boys  you  put  on  the  habits  of 
a man,  and  of  a bad  man  into  the  bargain,  remember 
the  fable  of  the  ass  in  the  lion’s  skin. 

But  when  a child  has  outgrown  the  good  clothing  of 
Humility,  and  put  on  a full  suit  of  Pride,  there  comes 
another  evil  from  it.  He  often  gives  up  his  prayers 
and  his  Bible.  Have  you  ever  seen  the  picture  of  the 
infant  Samuel  kneeling  down  and  saying  his  prayers  ? 
It  is  a great  favourite  in  many  cottage  homes.  Now  is 
not  that  a better  picture  than  that  of  a boy  or  girl  who 
is  ashamed  to  pray : who  lies  down  at  night  without 
one  word  of  thanksgiving  or  one  request  for  pardon  ? 
My  children,  never  think  you  are  too  big  to  pray.  The 
older  you  get,  and  the  more  you  go  out  into  the  world, 
the  more  need  you  have  of  God’s  help.  Be  ashamed 
of  doing  wrong,  be  ashamed  of  telling  a lie,  or  of  doing 
a mean  or  cruel  action,  or  of  using  filthy  words,  but 
never  be  ashamed  of  asking  God  to  heip  you,  or  of 
thanking  Him  for  His  mercies. 


44 


(£Ij t CfttRrrtn’jg  ftrcxts. 


f.  I told  you  that  the  Bible  speaks  of  the  worst  kind 
of  clothing,  it  tells  us  of  a man  who  “clothed  himself 
with  cursing  as  with  a garment.”  I take  cursing  there 
to  means  all  sorts  of  bad  language.  Now  if  you  were 
to  go  into  a house  where  smallpox  and  fever  were 
raging,  you  would  not  like  to  stay  there.  You  would 
not  wish  to  breathe  the  foul,  deadly  air  of  that  house, 
you  would  not  ask  leave  to  carry  away  some  of  the 
clothes  full  of  disease.  Well,  a house  full  of  cursing 
and  bad  language  is  just  as  bad  as  one  full  of  smallpox, 
the  air  is  poisoned,  the  clothes  are  poisoned,  for  the 
people  are  clothed  with  cursing  as  with  a garment. 
Get  away  from  that  foul  place  as  fast  as  you  can,  and 
don’t  try  to  take  any  of  the  poison  away  with  you.  The 
old  Greeks  tell  us  a story  about  the  death  of  Hercules. 
That  strong  hero  had  shot  his  enemy,  Nessus,  with  a 
poisoned  arrow,  and  the  garment  of  the  slain  man  was 
all  stained  with  poisoned  blood.  Before  he  died, 
Nessus  gave  his  clothing  to  the  wife  of  Hercules,  tell- 
ing her  that  it  would  make  her  husband  love  her 
always.  It  came  to  pass  after  a time  that  she  gave  the 
fatal  garment  to  her  husband,  and  no  sooner  had  he  put 
it  on,  than  the  poison  seized  upon  him,  and  when,  in 
his  agony,  he  tried  to  put  off  the  clothing,  it  clung  all 
the  tighter,  and  so  he  died,  killed  by  his  own  poison. 
So  it  is  with  the  man  who  clothes  himself  with  a garment 
of  cursing,  or  bad  talk,  it  clings  to  him,  and  poisons 


&fon  HtufrS  of  Clcitljtus. 


45 


him,  body  and  soul.  Have  you  ever  heard  the  pro- 
verb, that  “ Curses,  like  chickens,  always  come  home 
to  roost  ” ? It  is  a very  true  saying.  The  evil  wishes 
and  threats  which  are  spoken  in  anger  against  another 
return  on  the  swearer’s  own  head.  When  an  Arab  is 
kicked  by  his  camel,  or  when  the  beast  refuses  to  go 
on,  what  do  you  think  he  does  ? He  solemnly  curses 
the  camel,  at  the  same  time  throwing  a handfull  of 
sand  into  the  air,  and  most  of  that  sand  comes  back 
into  the  Arab’s  own  eyes.  So  it  is  with  curses. 

Then,  again,  there  is  filthy  talk,  That’s  a dirty  gar- 
ment to  wear.  There  is  nothing  manly  or  brave  in 
talking  indecently,  any  more  than  there  is  in  rolling  in 
the  mud.  You  would  be  ashamed  to  talk  in  that  way 
before  decent  people,  ought  you  not  to  to  be  ashamed 
to  talk  so  before  the  All-pure  God  ? Believe  me,  my 
children,  bad  talk  is  a foul  and  filthy  garment. 

There  are  several  other  kinds  of  clothing  of  which  I 
might  warn  you.  One  of  these  is  self-righteousness. 
I have  seen  a man  with  a very  glossy  black  suit  of 
clothes,  very  carefully  buttoned  up,  and  at  first  sight  he 
looked  most  clean  and  respectable.  But  when  I came 
to  look  more  closely,  I found  that  his  linen  was  any- 
thing but  white  and  clean.  His  respectability  was  all 
outside . Now  we  sometimes  find  a boy  or  girl  setting 
himself  up  as  being  better  than  others.  We  find  3, 


46 


<£f)c  CStltfmfg  23reatr* 


child  of  this  sort  very  ready  to  tell  tales  of  his  compan- 
ions, and  ready  to  gain  favour  with  teachers  by  being 
very  demure  and  quiet  in  school-time,  very  ready  to 
say,  “ 1 would  not  do  such  a thing  as  that,” — and  yet 
anything  but  a good  child  out  of  school  hours.  I knew 
a boy  of  this  sort  once,  a very  quiet,  soft-spoken  lad, 
who  used  to  bring  me  a present  of  flowers  very  often. 
After  a time  I found  that  he  stole  these  flowers  from 
neighbouring  gardens,  and  then  presented  them  to  me, 
and  soon  after  he  robbed  his  employer,  and  was  sent 
to  a Reformatory. 

Never  be  a hypocrite,  children,  never  pretend 
to  be  one  thing  when  you  are  something  quite 
different.  Don’t  wear  a garment  which  looks  very 
clean  and  glossy  outside,  but  covers  all  kinds  of  impu- 
rity within.  “ Beware  of  false  prophets,  which  come 
to  you  in  sheep’s  clothing,  but  inwardly  they  are  raven- 
ing wolves.”  <£  Ye  shall  know  them  by  their  fruits.”  If 
you  hear  a child  singing  a hymn,  such  as  “ Gentle  Jesus, 
meek  and  mild,”  for  instance,  and  if  directly  afterwards 
you  see  that  child  quarrelling  with  a school-mate  and 
striking  him,  you  can’t  believe  in  that  child’s  piety,  it  is 
all  outside . You  have  seen  those  plaster  figures  which 
are  made  in  Italy,  and  sold  about  our  streets  ? Well, 
they  are  very  pretty  to  look  at,  but  if  you  peep  inside 
them  you  will  find  they  are  quite  hollow,  the  beauty 
does  not  go  right  through . If  we  want  to  be  God’s 


5T£d0  KtirtfS  trt  Clfltibtnjj. 


47 


children,  we  must  be  real,  genuine,  and  honest  right 
through.  And  now  one  word  more,  and  I have  done. 
If  your  clothes  are  old,  and  worn  out,  or  do  not  fit  you, 
what  must  you  do?  You  must  get  a new  suit.  Well, 
there  are  some  kinds  of  clothing  which  we  should  cast 
off  as  soon  as  possible.  If  any  of  you  have  put  on  bad 
habits,  foul,  filthy  clothing,  such  as  pride,  or  falsehood, 
or  bad  talk,  or  any  other  sort  of  bad  dress,  you  must 
change  your  clothes.  Cast  off  the  old  garment,  and  go 
down  on  your  knees,  and  ask  God  for  Jesus  Christ’s 
sake,  to  give  you  a new  dress.  What  do  I mean  by 
casting  away  the  old  garment  ? , I mean  that  you  must 
repent ; that  is,  you  must  learn  to  see  how  foul  and 
ugly  the  dress  of  sin  looks.  Then  you  must  be 
really  sorry  that  you  have  ever  put  it  on ; and  next  you 
must  make  up  your  mind,  by  God’s  help,  to  cast  it 
away,  and  have  no  more  to  do  with  it.  You  must  ask 
the  dear  Lord  to  help  you ; go  to  Him  and  say,  “ wash 
me,  and  I shall  be  whiter  than  snow ; wash  me 
thoroughly  from  my  wickedness,  and  cleanse  me  from 
my  sin.  Create  in  me  a clean  heart,  and  renew  a right 
spirit  within  me.’1  God  alone  can  make  you  clean, 
God  alone  can  give  you  a garment  of  righteousness. 
If  you  have  not  kept  your  white  robe  carefully,  if  that 
garment  given  you  in  your  baptism  has  become  spotted 
by  sin,  ask  the  dear  Lord  Jesus,  the  children’s  Friend, 
to  help  you.  He  will  say  to  you,  “ I counsel  thee  to 


48 


buy  of  Me  gold  tried  in  the  fire,  that  thou  mayest  be 
rich  : and  white  raiment  that  thou  mayest  be  clothed.” 
And  you  can  buy  these  “ without  money,  and  without 
price.” 


SERMON  VI. 


SEA  SON  A BLE  WORDS. 

(&ent.) 


Proverbs  xv.  23. 

M A word  spoken  in  due  season,  how  good  is  it.’* 

There  are  some  words  which  are  good  at  all  seasons, 
and  others  which  are  never  in  season  at  all.  I will  try 
to  tell  you  something  of  both.  First  of  all,  there  are 
the  words  which  God  speaks  to  us,  they  are  always  in 
season.  They  were  spoken  a long  time  ago,  and 
wriiten  in  God’s  Book  many  a year  since,  and  some- 
times we  neglect  them,  just  because  we  have  heard 
them  so  often.  “ Honour  thy  father  and  thy  mother 
those  are  very  old  words,  but  they  are  always  season- 
able I am  very  much  afraid  that  some  of  you  children 


50 


%Z\)z  Cljtltfmi’tf  23rcatf. 


who  are  growing  up,  think  you  have  outgrown  this 
commandment.  I don’t  think  young  lads  and  girls 
show  the  same  respect  and  reverence  for  their  father 
and  mother  as  was  the  custom  formerly.  For  my  own 
part,  I would  not  give  much  for  the  future  of  the  boy 
or  girl  who  cannot  make  a friend  of  his  parents,  and 
who  thinks  himself  too  clever  to  follow  their  advice. 
It  is  the  beginning  of  a bad  time  when  boys  and  girls 
have  secrets  from  their  mothers.  Do  you  know  that 
nearly  all  the  good  men  and  women  in  the  world  have 
been  made  so  by  their  mothers  ? If  a boy  goes  to  his 
mother  with  all  his  secrets,  his  sorrows,  his  sufferings, 
his  mistakes,  if  he  never  ceases  to  love  her,  there  is 
good  hope  for  him,  in  spite  of  his  faults  and  failures. 

A man,  who  was  very  famous  in  his  day,  tells  us  that 
when  a boy  he  tempted  a companion,  younger  than 
himself,  to  enter  a cave  on  a wild  part  of  the  sea-coast. 
Whilst  the  boys  were  looking  at  the  wonders  of  the 
cave,  the  tide  came  up  unnoticed,  and  they  were  kept 
prisoners  all  night.  The  younger  boy  burst  into  tears, 
saying,  “ What  will  my  mother  think  ? I should  care 
nothing  for  myself — but  my  mother.”  My  children, 
when  you  are  tempted  to  do  wrong,  stop,  and  repeat 
to  yourselves  the  words  of  that  little  lad,  “ What  will' 
my  mother  think  ?’’ 

Here  is  another  word  in  season  : be.  gentle.  Especially 


£>ea£0tiat)lc  OTorttt. 


51 


be  gentle  in  your  words  and  manners  to  your  mother, 
or  sisters,  or  anyone  weaker  than  yourselves.  There 
is  nothing  noble  or  manly  in  being  rough,  rude,  and 
noisy.  Sometimes  you  say  of  a companion  who  has  a 
new  suit  of  clothes,  and  some  money  in  his  pocket, 
that  “ he  looks  quite  a gentleman.”  But  it  is  not  the 
money  nor  the  clothes  which  make  him  deserve  that 
name,  he  must  be  gentle , thoughtful  for  others,  unselfish, 
These  are  the  marks  of  a gentleman.  Jesus  Christ  is 
the  truest  example  of  gentleness : whoever  comes 
nearest  to  His  example  is  most  worthy  of  the  name  of 
gentleman.  A lad  sometimes  fancies  that  he  shows 
his  independence  by  being  uncivil,  but  he  is  mistaken, 
he  is  just  breaking  God’s  command  “to  be  courteous.” 
The  famous  Roman,  Marc  Antony,  was  one  day  walk- 
ing with  a friend,  and  a slave  saluted  him.  The  great 
Roman  returned  the  salute  politely.  His  friend  was 
surprised  that  he  should  notice  a mere  slave.  “ Why,” 
answered  he,  “ would  you  have  the  slave  show  himself 
more  a gentleman  than  Marc  Antony  ?” 

The  greatest  heroes  have  been  celebrated  as  the 
most  gentle  and  courteous  in  manner.  There  was  Sir 
Walter  Raleigh,  of  whom  you  have  all  heard,  he  was 
as  brave  as  a lion,  and  as  gentle  as  a woman.  So  was 
Sir  Philip  Sidney,  that  brave  warrior  who,  when  lying 
mortally  wounded  in  his  last  battle,  refused  a cup  of 
water,  and  gave  it  to  a private  soldier  lying  near  him. 


62 


£Ij c CIjtftfrm’3  2$rcatf. 


Be  gentle,  my  children,  and  think  of  others  before 
yourselves.  A great  man  says,  tc  A man  has  no  more 
right  to  say  an  uncivil  thing  than  to  act  one — no  more 
right  to  say  a rude  thing  to  another  than  to  knock  him 
down.” 

Let  me  tell  you  a story  of  Sir  William  Napier.  He 
was  taking  a walk  in  the  country  one  day,  when  he  met 
a little  girl  of  five  years,  crying  bitterly  over  a broken 
bowl.  She  had  taken  her  father’s  dinner  to  the  field, 
and  on  her  way  home  had  fallen,  and  broken  the 
basin.  She  said  she  should  be  beaten  on  her  return, 
and  then  looking  up  with  a new  hope  into  Sir  William’s 
face,  she  said,  “ But  you  can  mend  it,  can’t  you  ?” 
He  told  her  that  was  more  than  he  could  do,  but  he 
would  give  her  sixpence  to  buy  another.  On  feeling 
for  his  purse,  however,  Napier  found  that  he  had  left 
it  at  home,  so  he  promised  to  meet  the  little  girl  at  the 
same  spot  next  day,  and  to  bring  the  sixpence  with 
him.  On  reaching  home,  he  found  an  invitation  to 
dine  at  a distant  place  next  day,  with  a friend  whom  he 
specially  wanted  to  see.  He  knew  that  it  would  be 
impossible  for  him  to  accept  the  invitation,  and  to 
keep  his  appointment  with  the  little  child.  Which  did 
he  do?  “I  cannot  disappoint  her,  she  trusted  me,” 
he  said  ; so  gave  up  his  own  pleasure  for  the  sake  of 
making  a child  happy. 

Here  is  another  word  in  season,  God’s  own  Word, 


53 


“ Buy  the  Truth,  and  sell  it  not.”  Be  truthful.  No 
one  has  any  right  to  call  himself  one  of  God’s  children 
unless  he  is  truthful,  because  God  is  Truth . Can  you 
tell  me  a text  which  shows  us  that  Heaven  is  not  for 
false  people  ? “ There  shall  in  nowise  enter  into  it 
anything  that  defileth,  neither  whatsoever  worketh 
abomination,  or  maketh  a lie .”  Now  remember,  my 
children,  no  one  can  tell  one  lie,  and  stop  there. 
One  falsehood  makes  many.  You  remember  how  the 
prophets  servant,  Gehazi,  wrent  on  telling  lie  after  lie 
when  he  had  once  begun.  So  it  is  with  all  who  go  from 
the  truth.  Lying  grows  into  a habit.  When  you  are 
tempted  to  say  something  not  quite  true,  it  may  be  in 
boasting,  or  in  relating  some  story,  or  to  hide  a fault, 
fight  against  the  temptation  at  once,  feel  like  the  boy 
Washington,  “I  cannot  tell  a lie.”  King  Alfred,  of 
whom  you  have  all  read  in  English  History,  was  called 
the  Truth-teller , what  a glorious  title  for  a man  to  have  ! 
The  great  Duke  of  Wellington,  who  won  Waterloo, 
was  famous  for  his  love  of  truth ; this  is  what  a famous 
poet  says  of  the  two — He  “ never  sold  the  truth  to 
serve  the  hour  ; 

“ Truth-teller  was  our  England’s  Alfred  named ; 
Truth-lover  was  our  English  Duke  ; 

Whatever  record  leap  to  light, 

He  never  shall  be  shamed.” 

Always  speak  the  truth.  It  has  been  said,  “ Sin  has 


54 


Cl )t  C&iRrrcn’l  33  r catr. 


many  tools,  but  a lie  is  the  handle  which  fits  them  all.” 
If  once  you  begin  to  go  from  the  truth  you  will  go 
down  hill  very  fast.  Now  I’m  going  to  tell  you  a 
story  of  a brave  boy  who  would  not  tell  a lie.  A 
Liverpool  steamer,  bound  for  New  York,  had  been 
three  days  at  sea,  when  a little  lad,  not  ten  years  old, 
was  found  hidden  away  among  some  casks.  He  was  a 
“stowaway,”  trying  to  get  a free  passage  to  America. 
The  grim  chief-mate  of  the  steamer  stood,  surrounded 
by  the  passengers  and  crew,  as  he  questioned  the  little 
stowaway.  The  boy  told  him  that  his  step-father  had 
put  him  on  board,  giving  him  a little  food  to  last  him 
till  the  ship  was  well  at  sea,  and  bidding  him  make  his 
way  to  an  aunt  in  Halifax  ; and  the  boy  placed  a 
crumpled  paper  with  the  aunt’s  address  into  the  chief 
mate’s  hand.  The  sailors  believed  the  lad’s  story,  not 
so  the  mate.  “ Some  of  these  men  of  mine  are  in  the 
secret,”  he  said,  “point  out  this  minute  the  man  who 
stowed  and  fed  you.”  The  boy  looked  up  with  a thin, 
but  fearless  face,  and  answered,  “ I have  told  you  the 
truth,  and  have  no  more  to  say.”  The  mate  turned 
angrily  to  the  crew,  and  gave  this  order,  “ Reave  a 
rope  to  the  yard.”  Then  pointing  to  the  cord  which 
hung  from  the  yard-arm  as  from  a gibbet,  the  mate 
said  to  the  little  stowaway,  “ You  see  that  rope,  my 
lad?  I’ll  give  you  ten  minutes  to  confess,”  he  took 
out  his  watch  as  he  spoke,  “ and  if  you  do  not  tell  the 


55 


truth  before  the  time  is  up  I’ll  hang  you  like  a dog.’* 
The  little  fellow  turned  yet  paler,  but  never  flinched, 
whilst  the  crew  began  to  utter  angry  murmurs.  “ Eight 
minutes,”  cried  the  mate  ; “ if  you’ve  anything  to  con- 
fess you’d  best  be  quick,  for  your  time’s  nearly  up.” 
“ I’ve  told  you  the  truth,”  answered  the  little  lad,  “ and 
I cannot  tell  a lie.  Please,  may  I say  my  prayers  ?” 
The  mate  nodded,  and  the  boy  went  down  on  his 
knees  on  the  deck,  with  the  rope  over  his  head,  and, 
putting  his  small  hands  together,  repeated  softly  the 
prayer  which  his  mother  had  taught  him.  Then  rising, 
and  turning  to  the  mate,  he  said  very  quietly,  “ I’m 
ready.’’  In  a moment  a change  came  over  the  stern 
man’s  face.  Tears  sprang  to  his  eyes,  he  caught  the 
boy  in  his  arms,  and  cried,  “ God  bless  you,  my  boy, 
you’re  a true  Englishman,  every  inch  of  you,  you 
would  not  tell  a lie  to  save  your  life.”  Yes,  he  was  a 
true  hero,  he  was  only  afraid  of  one  thing,  of  doing 
wrong. 


SERMON  VII. 


MORE  SEASONABLE  WORDS. 
0Unt.> 


Proverbs  xv.  23. 

tf  A word  spoken  in  due  season,  how  good  is  it.” 

I spoke  to  you  lately  some  words  in  season,  can  you 
remember  what  they  were  ? “ Honour  thy  father  and 
thy  mother,  be  gentle,  be  truthful.”  Now  I want  you 
to  hear  some  more  words  in  season,  hear  these  first, — 
Be  in  earnest  Have  you  ever  watched  a boat’s  crew 
rowing  from  a man-of-war  ? If  the  sailors  don’t  row 
quickly  enough,  the  officer  will  cry  out,  “Give  way, 
my  lads,  give  way  with  a will”  Now  that  is  the  way  to 
do  all  work,  with  a will.  God  says  so — “ Whatsoever 
thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  do  it  with  thy  might.”  Work 


iHarc  £ca£attaljlr  ££fGrtt£< 


57 


when  you  work,  and  play  when  you  play,  and  do  both 
earnestly.  The  motto  which  a famous  old  painter  used 
to  put  on  his  pictures  was,  “as  7uell  as  I can ;”  and  that 
motto  of  Van  Eyck  is  an  excellent  one  for  all,  do  the 
best  you  can . Whatever  is  worth  doing  at  all  is  worth 
doing  well.  No  schoolmaster  likes  to  see  work  half 
done,  no  employer  likes  to  see  his  servant  working  in  a 
half-hearted  way,  and  above  all,  God  does  not  respect 
work  in  which  we  have  not  done  our  best.  Sometimes 
you  children  have  to  write  a copy.  And  you  begin 
very  well,  and  form  your  letters  very  carefully,  but 
when  you  are  half  through  the  copy,  you  begin  to  grow 
careless,  and  the  page  ends  with  crooked  words  and  a 
great  blot.  , That  is  because  you  are  not  in  earnest  to 
the  end.  So  it  is  with  some  lives.  They  begin  well 
enough,  like  the  copy.  . 5 The  boy  at  school,  or  at 
service,  starts  very  fairly;,  but  he  does  not  per- 
severe, he  is  not  in  earnest,  and  so,  although 
he  began  so  well,  he  ends  in  failure,  and  perhaps  in 
disgrace.  I was  reading  a very  good  book  lately, 
which  gives  this  advice,  do  in  the  day  the  day's  work. 
Every  day  has  its  duties,  do  not  put  them  off  till 
to-morrow,  but  work  your  work  while  it  is  called  to-day . 
Make  up  your  mind  to  be  in  earnest,  and  you  will 
succeed.  “ I can’t,”  never  did  anything ; “ I will  try,” 
has  done  much.  “ I will  do  it,”  has  done  wonders. 
Yes,  every  day  brings  its  work  to  be  done,  its  tempta- 


58 


®fjiRrrcn'$  SStTatr. 


tions  to  be  guarded  against,  its  innocent  pleasures  to 
be  enjoyed.  I read  some  simple  rhymes  the  other 
day,  which  you  must  try  to  remember — 

“There’s  a prayer  that  should  be  said.  > 

And  a book  that  should  be  read, 

Every  day ! 

There’s  a work  that  should  be  wrought, 

And  a battle  to  be  fought, 

Every  day! 

There  are  duties  to  be  done, 

And  victories  to  be  won, 

As  soars  and  sets  the  sun, 

Every  day! 

There’s  a Cross  that  must  be  borne, 

And  a thorny  chaplet  worn, 

Every  day ! 

If  in  patience  we  are  strong, 

We  shall  not  suffer  long, 

But  shall  beat  down  fraud  and  wrong, 

Every  day  I 

And  when  the  race  is  run, 

And  the  battle  has  been  won, 

We  shall  rest  'our  duty  done, 
v Everyday! 

Try  then,  my  children,  to  do  each  day’s  work 
thoroughly  every  day,  and  then  you  will  never  have  to 
say  sadly,  like  the  Roman  Emperor,  “I  have  lost  a 
day.”  I will  tell  you  of  a good  man  who  always  tried 
to  do  a day’s  work  in  a day.  He  was  called  the 


fHcrc  i~ca£aitaMc  OTav&£. 


59 


Venerable  Bede,  and  he  was  a Priest  of  God,  who 
lived  in  an  Abbey  in  Northumberland,  after  the  Eng- 
lish became  Christians,  He  has  written  some  very 
interesting  stories  about  those  old  English  days.  Bede 
never  liked  to  be  idle  for  a moment,  and  all  the  time 
which  he  could  spare  from  his  work  as  a Priest,  he 
spent  in  study  and  writing.  He  fell  ill  about  a fortnight 
before  his  death,  and  feeling  that  his  time  was  short, 
he  tried  to  make  the  most  of  every  minute  which  was 
left  him.  One  of  the  things  he  did  in  these  last  days 
was  to  turn  S.  John’s  Gospel  into  English.  The  day 
before  he  died,  Bede  was  very  weak,  and  could  scarcely 
breathe,  but  he  was  quite  cheerful,  and  spent  the 
morning  in  dictating  the  Gospel  to  a little  boy,  perhaps 
a choir  boy,  named  Wilbert,  who  wrote  down  the  verses 
one  by  one,  as  fast  as  Bede  turned  them  into  English. 
Every  now  and  then  Bede  would  say,  “ Get  on  as 
quickly  as  you  can,  for  I do  not  know  how  soon  I may 
be  gone.,,  On  the  day  of  his  death,  which  was  in  742, 
(think,  children,  eleven  hundred  and  forty  years  ago) 
Bede  worked  all  the  morning  as  before,  and  reached 
the  last  chapter  of  the  Gospel  . . then  he  sent  for  his 
brethren  from  the  Abbey  to  say  farewell.  As  the  bell 
rang  for  evening  service,  the  boy  Wilbert  said,  “ Dear 
master,  there  is  still  one  verse  to  be  written.”  “ Then 
write  quickly,”  answered  Bede,  and  told  him  what  to 
put  down.  “ Now  it  is  finished,”  cried  the  boy,  as  he 


60 


Cbe  Cf)tUrmi’£  SSrcatf* 


laid  down  the  pen.  “ Yes,  it  is  finished,”  Bede  said  ; 
“and  now  lift  up  my  head,  and  hold  me  up,  that  I may 
look  upon  the  Church  where  I have  been  used  to  pray.” 
And  as  the  boy  was  holding  him  up,  he  died,  with  a 
prayer  upon  his  lips.  God  grant,  my  children,  that 
when  we  come  to  die,  we  may  not  leave  one  verse  of 
our  life’s  story  unfinished,  but  may  say  humbly, 
in  the  words  of  our  dear  Saviour,  “I  have  finished 
the  work  which  Thou  gavest  me  to  do— it  is 
finished.” 

Here  is  another  word  in  season  for  you — Persevere. 
No  matter  what  you  have  to  do,  whether  it  is  to  con- 
quer a bad  temper,  or  to  curb  an  unruly  tongue,  or  to 
break  from  some  bad  habit,  or  to  get  through  a tough 
piece  of  work,  or  to  do  a hard  sum,  persevere , try,  try 
again.  You  have  often  seen  a little  baby  trying  to 
walk.  It  looks  as  if  those  weak,  bending  legs  would 
never  carry  the  child  upright.  He  tails  every  minute, 
yet  he  learns  to  walk  at  last.  So  when  we  try  to  walk 
in  the  right  way,  to  keep  out  of  the  dirty  ruts  of  sin,  to 
keep  in  the  middle  of  the  road,  we  shall  often  fall  at 
first : but  if  we  persevere,  all  will  be  well.  You  have 
often  seen  people  skating  on  the  ice ; how  swiftly  they 
glide  along,  what  wonderful  things  they  can  do  with 
their  feet.  Well,  they  could  not  do  these  things  at 
first.  When  they  put  on  skates  for  the  first  time,  they 
went  slipping  and  stumbling  along,  and  they  had 


fHarc  £ca*>anafc!c  fcSfartte. 


61 


many  falls,  but  their  motto  was,  Get  up , and  try  again . 
Make  that  your  motto,  if  you  find  it  hard  to  do  right, 
hard  to  get  through  a day  without  offending  God,  or 
your  parents,  hard  to  keep  on  your  feet,  pray  to  God  to 
give  you  strength,  and  each  time  you  fall,  get  up  a?id  try 
again . There  ought  to  be  no  such  word  as  “ I can't” 
among  Christian  boys  and  girls.  “ You  can  do  all  things 
through  Christ  who  strengtheneth  you.”  No  one  knows 
what  he  can  do  till  he  tries,  and  God  helps  those  who 
help  themselves. 

I will  tell  you  a story  of  a man,  which  was  written 
for  our  learning  by  the  same  Bede  of  whom  I spoke 
just  now.  The  man  was  called  Cadmon,  the  horse- 
tender,  and  he  was  a servant  in  an  abbey  in  Yorkshire, 
and  took  charge  of  the  horses.  Cadmon  was  a kind, 
Godly  man,  but  not  educated  or  clever,  and  he  could 
not  even  sing  or  play  on  the  harp  like  his  fellows. 
When  there  was  a merry-making,  the  harp  was  passed 
round,  and  each  in  turn  played  upon  it,  and  sang  a 
song.  When  it  came  to  Cadmon’s  turn,  lie  could 
neither  sing  nor  play,  and  this  vexed  him  sorely,  and 
often  he  would  leave  the  merry  company,  and  go  away 
to  his  stable.  This  had  happened  one  night,  and 
Cadmon  was  asleep  in  his  stable,  when  he  dreamed  a 
wonderful  dream.  A man  stood  before  him,  and  said, 
“ Cadmon,  sing  me  something.”  And  the  horse-tender 
told  him  sadly  that  he  could  neither  sing  nor  play,  and 


02 


Clje  CfjtlUrcn^  23rcatf. 


for  that  same  reason  he  had  left  the  feast  But  the 
man  answered,  “ For  all  that  you  must  sing  to  me. 
Sing  to  me  of  the  beginning  of  things.”  And  then 
Cadmon  began  to  sing  a beautiful  song,  which  he  had 
never  heard  before,  and  Bede  tells  us  that  these  were 
the  two  first  lines — 

“ Let  us  magnify  meetly  the  Master  of  Heaven ; 

The  might  of  the  Maker,  the  thoughts  of  His  Mind.” 

When  Cadmon  awoke  he  could  remember  what  he 
had  sung,  and  was  able  to  go  on  with  the  song,  and 
put  fresh  verses  as  well  as  any  poet  of  them  all.  Well, 
they  brought  the  horse-tender  before  the  learned  men 
in  the  Abbey,  and  he  told  them  of  his  dream,  and  they 
believed  that  he  had  received  a gift  from  God.  To  see 
what  he  could  do,  they  told  Cadmon  a story  out  of  the 
Bible  which  he  had  never  heard,  for  there  were  no 
English  Bibles  then,  and  they  told  him  to  turn  the 
story  into  verse,  and  to  sing  it  to  them  the  next  day. 
AVhen  the  morrow  came,  Cadmon  sang  a fine  new  poem, 
which  he  had  made  out  of  the  Bible  story.  So  it  was 
clear  that  he  must  use  the  gift  which  God  had  given 
him,  and  he  was  taken  out  of  the  stable,  and  placed 
in  the  Abbey,  and  by  degrees  he  turned  nearly  all  the 
Bible  stories  into  verse,  and  some  of  them  still  remain 
written  in  old  parchment  books.  So  you  see,  children, 
Cadmon  did  not  know  what  he  could  do  till  he  tried. 
Whatever  gift  God  has  given  you,  and  he  has  given 


fbTave  £ca£cmahle  ranrttf. 


C3 


you  all  something,  make  the  most  of  it.  Because  a 
work  is  small  and  common  it  must  not  be  neglected. 
Have  you  ever  heard  a great  musician  play  the  organ 
in  ChurcH  ? You  think  what  a grand  thing  it  is  to  be 
able  to  play  like  that.  But  if  you  go  behind  the  organ 
you  see  a boy  blowing  the  bellows,  without  that  humble 
worker  the  grand  musician  couldn’t  play  a note.  In 
this  life  some  of  us  occupy  high  places,  like  this 
musician, — making  sweet  music, — others  lowly  situa- 
tions like  the  organ-blower,  in  either  place  let  us  try  to 
do  our  duty  to  God  and  our  neighbour,  and  do  it  with 
all  our  might,  and  do  it  well . 


SERMON  VIII, 


ABOUT  GETTING  ON. 
(Unit.) 


S.  Luke  xiv.  io. 

“Go  up  higher.’* 

» 

I am  going  to  speak  to  you  about  getting  on.  We  bear 
the  question  asked  very  often,  “ How  are  you  getting 
on  People  speak  of  a child  at  school,  and  they  say, 
u How  is  he  getting  on  P”#  You  look  at  a man  doing 
some  work,  and  you  ask  the  same  question  ; you  meet 
a.  man  recovering  from  an  illness,  and  you  say  to  him, 
“How  are  you  getting  on?’’  And  some  one  else  also  asks 
the  same  question,  God  asks  how  we  are  getting  on. 
We  are  intended  to  get  on,  not  to  stand  still.  As  we 


gfiaut  Getting  ®it. 


65 


grow  older  every  minute,  so  we  ought  to  be  always 
moving  on  in  other  ways,  learning  something,  improving. 
You  children  are  sent  to  school  that  you  may  get  on 
with  your  learning,  and  so  be  able  to  get  on  in  the 
world.  God  sends  us  all  into  the  world  as  into  another 
school,  a very  large  school  indeed,  where  we  may  get 
on,  and  be  made  fit  for  Heaven.  This  life  is  God’s 
school,  and  if  we  are  diligent  scholars  we  shall  be  pre- 
pared for  the  life  everlasting.  So  you  see,  children, 
God  means  us  all  to  get  on.  Well,  if  we  are  to  get  on, 
the  first  thing  we  must  do  is  to  climb.  The  child  who 
gets  on  is  not  content  to  be  at  the  bottom  of  the  school, 
he  begins  there,  but  he  climbs  till  he  gets  to  the  top. 
There  are  two  things  which  people  have  to  remember 
in  climbing — first,  to  look  up,  and  next,  not  to  turn 
back.  I was  once  climbing  up  a very  steep  cliff,  over- 
hanging the  sea.  When  I had  gone  up  a long  way,  I 
looked  down,  and  directly  my  head  began  to  grow 
dizzy,  and  my  legs  to  tremble.  So  I looked  up  again, 
and  went  on  climbing  quite  safely.  A man  once 
climbed  up  to  a certain  natural  bridge  over  a torrent 
in  America,  and  cut  his  name  on  it,  higher  than  any 
man  had  ever  done  before.  But  when  he  tried  to  come 
down,  he  found  it  was  impossible,  the  only  safety  for 
him  was  to  keep  on  climbing  right  to  the  top.  t&  So  it 
is  with  all  climbing  in  this  life,  there  is  no  going  down, 
it  is  either  climbing,  or  falling.”  Remember,  before 
e 


66 


CfjfRfrtn’4  2Smtr. 


we  can  reach  the  top  of  any  tiling  high  we  must  climb , 
not  sit  at  the  bottom  and  wish.  Many  of  our  greatest 
men  began  at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder,  with  no  advan- 
tages, and  plenty  of  difficulties,  but  they  were  climbers, 
and  they  got  to  the  top. 

Faraday,  the  famous  chemist,  had  very  little  educa- 
tion, and  at  twelve  years  old  was  an  errand  boy  to  a 
London  bookseller  and  bookbinder.  He  got  up, 
summer  and  winter,  at  five  o’clock,  and  took  out  the 
daily  papers  to  his  customers.  His  master  made  him 
his  apprentice,  and  whenever  a book  was  sent  to  be 
bound,  the  boy  read  it  first.  He  became  one  of  the 
greatest  chemists  of  the  day.  He  was  a climber.  So 
was  James  Ferguson,  the  astronomer.  He  was  only  a 
poor  boy,  a labourer’s  son,  in  Scotland,  but  he  was  so 
anxious  to  learn  that,  when  quite  a little  fellow,  he 
would  listen  when  his  brother  was  taught  to  read,  and 
could  actually  read  himself  before  his  father  was  aware 
that  he  knew  the  Alphabet.  Ferguson  was  sent  out  to 
keep  sheep  for  a farmer,  and  on  starlight  nights,  he 
would  lie  in  the  fields,  wrapped  in  a blanket,  with  a 
thread  of  small  beads  stretched  out  before  him  and  the 
sky.  What  was  he  doing?  He  was  watching  the 
motions  of  the  stars,  and  he  would  slide  the  beads 
along  the  thread  till  certain  stars  were  hidden  from  his 
sight,  and  then  try  to  measure  the  distance  of  one  star 
from  another.  In  time  the  poor  shepherd  boy  became 


$ftaut  <§£ttUICJ 


67 


famous,  he  not  only  learned  astronomy,  but  watch- 
making, portrait-painting,  and  many  other  things.  He 
was  a climber. 

There  are  hundreds  of  stories  of  poor  boys  who 
became  great  men,  statesmen,  soldiers,  engineers, 
painters,  because  they  were  determined  to  get  on,  and 
to  climb.  I will  tell  you  one  other  story  of  this  kind. 
There  was  once  a very  famous  painter  in  Spain  named 
Murillo,  and  he  had  many  pupils  who  used  to  paint  in 
his  studio.  These  pupils  were  waited  on  by  a Mulatto 
slave  named  Sebastian  Gomez.  Oftentimes  the  young 
students  amused  themselves  by  laughing  at  the  dark 
skinned  negro,  and  making  fun  of  him ; no  one  ever 
thought  of  teaching  him  how  to  paint,  or  supposed  that 
he  knew  one  colour  from  another.  But  the  despised 
Mulatto  slave  was  really  a better  artist  than  any  of  the 
young  students.  He  used  to  watch  and  learn  every 
day,  and  at  night,  instead  of  sleeping,  he  would  practice 
his  art.  After  a time  he  began  during  the  night  to  correct 
some  of  the  mistakes  made  by  the  pupils  in  the  day, 
and  Murillo  was  astonished  to  see  an  arm  or  leg  added 
to  a figure,  or  a rough,  badly-coloured  sky  softened 
and  made  beautiful.  How  was  all  this  done  ? Some 
thought  it  was  done  by  magic.  One  day  Murillo  found 
a beautifully-painted  head  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary, 
and  no  one  knew  how  it  came  there ; so  he  watched 
secretly,  and  at  last  discovered  that  the  work  was  done 


68 


€f)e  Cfjtttrrai’jEi  Brratr. 


by  the  Mulatto  slave.  Afterwards  Gomez  rose  to  be  a 
great  painter. 

But,  my  children,  I want  to  speak  to  you  about 
another  kind  of  climbing,  that  which  God  expects  of 
us.  Every  day  God  says  to  us  all,  “ Go  up  higher” — • 
higher  in  thought,  and  word,  and  deed.  You  all  hope 
to  go  to  Heaven  one  day ; well,  Heavenly  life  is  so  high 
a life,  that  we  must  climb  up  daily  if  we  are  to  get 
there  at  last. 

We  must  be  content  to  climb  step  by  step  as  men 
climb  a ladder.  I have  read  of  a little  child  who  was 
taken  to  a great  cathedral.  He  stood  on  the  marble 
floor,  and  looked  up  with  wonder  at  the  men  and 
women  who  were  walking  in  a gallery  round  the  great 
dome,  a hundred  and  fifty  feet  above  him.  How  did 
they  ever  get  there,  thought  the  child.  He  longed  to 
get  there  too,  but  he  thought,  “ It’s  too  high,  too  far  for 
me.”  Then  the  child’s  father  opened  a door  in  the 
wall,  and  taking  him  by  the  hand,  led  him  through  it. 
The  child  saw  some  stone  steps  in  a winding  staircase. 
One  by  one  he  put  his  feet  upon  the  steps,  and  pre- 
sently he  found  himself  in  the  gallery,  with  the  blue 
dome  just  above  his  head,  and  the  floor  on  which  he 
had  stood  far  below  He  had  come  all  the  way  step 
by  step.  So,  dear  children,  must  you  climb  ; let  Jesus 
take  you  by  the  hand,  and  lead  you  on  step  by  step. 


®l}0ut  (Setting  <&n> 


69 


If  every  day  you  take  one  step  upwards,  by  conquering 
one  fault,  by  struggling  with  one  bad  habit,  by  getting 
the  better  of  one  selfish  wish,  you  will  get  nearer  to 
|God,  and  farther  from  all  that  is  low,  and  mean,  and 
contemptible.  We  must  not  put  off  our  thoughts 
of  Heaven  till  this  life  is  all  but  over.  People  who  live 
always  in  a low-lying  district,  could  not  breathe  moun- 
tain air,  and  we  shall  not  be  fit  for  the  high  life  of 
Heaven  unless  we  climb.  Heaven  means  simply  being 
with  God,  and  doing  the  will  of  God.  We  should  try 
day  by  day  to  get  nearer  to  Him,  and  to  do  His  will, 
that’s  why  we  are  told  to  pray,  “ Thy  will  be  done  in 
earth,  as  it  is  in  Heaven.’’  Do  you  know  that  the 
higher  you  climb  up  the  mountain  the  purer  the  air 
becomes,  and  the  wider  the  view  ? So  the  higher  you 
climb  in  life,  the  more  you  pray,  the  more  you 
think  about  God,  the  more  you  love  Jesus,  the  more 
you  struggle  with  self,  the'  purer  your  life  will  be,  and 
you  will  see  a far  wider  view  than  those  who  live  down 
in  the  dirty  ways  of  sin. 

i.v  A little  boy  was  once  taken  for  the  first  time  up  a 
high  mountain.  When  he  got  to  the  top,  and  looked 
on  the  grand,  silent,  melancholy  hills,  with  the  blue 
sky  looking  so  near,  and  the  world  so  far  below,  he 
said  to  his  father,  “ May  I say  my  prayers  ?’* 

Yes,  my  children,  the  more  we  climb,  the  nearer  we 


70 


HLfyz  (tLfyiTiSvm’g  2Srcatf. 


come  to  God,  and  the  more  we  want  to  speak  to  God 
in  prayer.  1 know  of  a tiny  little  boy,  only  about  two 
years  old,  who  looked  up  at  the  starry  heavens  one 
night,  and  said,  “ I should  so  like  to  climb  up  a ladder, 
and  peep  at  God.” 

My  little  children,  the  dear  Lord  Jesus  has  given  each 
of  you  a ladder  to  climb  on,  your  prayers  are  steps  on 
the  ladder,  the  Sacraments  and  teaching  of  the 
Church  are  steps  on  the  ladder,  the  troubles  and 
sorrows  of  your  little  lives,  the  conquests  over  your 
tempers  and  your  faults,  all  these  are  steps  on  the  ladder 
and  the  Hand  of  Jesus  is  ever  helping  you  upward  to 
that  life,  where  beyond  the  stars,  you  shall  look  on 
God,  and  be  satisfied. 


SERMON  IX. 


THE  CHILDREN’S  CR  USA  DE. 
(Eent) 


2 Tim.  ii.  3. 

“A  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ/' 

I suppose  many  of  you  have  read  of  those  strange 
wars  called  the  Crusades  ? They  were  undertaken  to 
deliver  the  Holy  Sepulchre  of  Jesus  at  Jerusalem  out  of 
the  hands  of  the  heathen.  Thousands  of  brave  men, 
besides  their  friends  and  followers,  went  to  the  Holy 
Land,  at  different  times,  to  fight  in  the  Crusades.  The 
warriors  wore  a blood  red  cross  on  their  clothing,  from 
which  they  got  their  name  of  Crusaders,  and  their 
motto  was,  “ The  Will  of  God."  It  was  a very  good 
motto,  but  not  a very  true  one  for  them,  for  I am 


72 


CIjc  Cl)tnrrtii’£  SSrcatr. 


afraid  they  did  many  cruel  and  wicked  things  which 
certainly  were  not  the  will  of  God ; and  thousands  of 
people  perished  miserably  abroad,  who  might  have  been 
doing  useful  work  at  home.  Well,  amongst  these 
Crusades  there  was  one  called  the  Children’s  Crusade. 
A boy  in  France  went  about  singing  in  his  own 
language — 

‘‘Jesus,  Lord,  repair  our  loss, 

Restore  to  us  Thy  Holy  Cross.” 

Crowds  of  Children  followed  him,  singing  the  same 
words.  No  bolts,  no  bars,  no  fear  of  fathers,  or  love 
of  mothers,  could  hold  them  back,  they  determined  to 
go  to  the  Holy  Land,  to  work  wonders  there  ! This 
mad  crusade  had  a very  sad  ending ; of  course  young 
children  could  do  nothing,  being  without  leaders,  or 
experience^  or  discipline,  and  they  all  perished 
miserably  either  by  land  or  sea. 

Now  I want  you  to  think  about  another  Children’s 
Crusade,  in  which  you  are  all  engaged.  What  do  we 
mean  when  we  pray  for  the  Church  “ militant  here  on 
earth  ?”  We  mean  the  fighting  Church,  the  Church 
on  the  battle-field  of  the  world.  We  are  God’s  army, 
and  every  one  of  us,  man,  woman,  and  child,  must 
try  to  show  that  he  is  a good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ. 
When  were  you  made  Christ’s  soldier;  my  children  ? 
At  your  Baptism,  when  you  were  admitted  into  the 


tEl)c  CljtRrrru’tf  €ru£atfc. 


73 


Body  of  Christ’s  Church,  and  signed  with  the  Cross,  as 
a token  that  hereafter  you  should  not  be  ashamed  to 
confess  the  faith  of  Christ  Crucified,  and  manfully  to 
fight  under  His  banner  against  sin,  the  world,  and  the 
devil,  and  to  continue  Christ’s  faithful  soldiers  and 
Servants  unto  your  life’s  end.  So  you  see  you  are 
pledged  to  fight  as  long  as  you  live,  and  since  you  fight 
under  the  sign  of  the  Cross,  your  warfare  is  a Crusade. 
What  do  you  think  is  required  of  a good  soldier  ? 
First  of  all,  he  must  be  brave.  It  has  been  said  that 
an  English  soldier  or  sailor  never  knows  when  he  is 
beaten.  Now  I hope  you  will  all  grow  up  brave  Eng- 
lish men  and  women,  because  the  word  coward  does 
not  seem  to  go  well  with  the  name  Briton.  But  there’s 
a better  sort  of  courage  than  that  of  a fighting  soldier, 
that’s  the  courage  of  a Christian,  which  makes  him  do 
right  at  any  cost ; which  makes  him  bear  sorrow,  and 
insult,  and  loss,  for  Jesus  Christ’s  sake.  We  all  like  to 
hear  about  acts  of  bravery,  like  that  of  the  little  mid- 
shipman who  spiked  the  Russian  guns  in  the  Crimean 
war  ; or  of  the  boy  Ensign,  Anstruther,  who  at  the 
battle  of  the  Alma  planted  the  colours  of  the  23rd 
Regiment  on  the  wall  of  the  great  Redoubt,  and  then 
fell,  shot  dead,  with  the  colours  drooping  over  him 
like  a pall.  But  the  courage  which  is  thought  most  of 
in  Heaven  is  the  courage  to  do  right.  The  boy  or  girl 
who  won’t  tell  a lie  to  escape  punishment,  the  schoolboy 


74 


who  is  brave  enough  to  say  his  prayers  with  a whole 
bedroom  of  companions  laughing  and  jeering  at  him ; 
the  young  servant-girl  who  won’t  cheat  and  lie, 
although  her  fellow-servants  persecute  her ; the  child 
who  is  brave  enough  to  say,  “No,”  when  he  is  asked 
to  do  wrong ; these  are  the  heroes  whose  names  are 
written  in  God’s  Book.  You  little  soldiers  of  Jesus, 
members  of  the  Children’s  Crusade  against  the  world, 
the  flesh,  and  the  devil,  must  pray  to  be  brave.  You 
must  be  brave  to  endure  hardness,  to  deny  yourselves 
for  Christ’s  sake.  Every  soldier  in  war  time  has  to 
give  up  much  which  is  pleasant,  and  dear  to  him  : you 
must  not  expect  to  have  your  own  way  always  if  you 
are  Christ’s  soldiers. 

I have  read  a story  of  a wounded  soldier  lying  on  a 
battlefield,  whose  mouth  had  been  struck  by  a shot. 
When  the  doctor  placed  a cup  of  water  to  his  mouth, 
the  man  was  eagerly  going  to  drink,  when  he  stopped, 
and  said,  “ My  mouth  is  all  bloody,  it  will  make  the 
cup  bad  for  the  others.”  That  soldier,  in  giving  up 
self  for  the  sake  of  others,  was  more  of  a hero  then 
than  when  charging  against  the  foe.  Try  to  remember 
that  story,  children,  and  if  you  are  tempted  to  do  any- 
thing selfish  or  wrong,  stop  and  think,  “ It  will  make 
it  bad  for  the  others  I 

You  must  expect  to  find  enemies  and  difficulties  if 


t£Ij t Cljtltfrcn’g  Cru£afc. 


75 


you  do  what  is  right.  Everyone  was  against  Daniel 
because  he  prayed  to  God.  Everyone  was  against 
Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abednego,  because  they 
would  not  bow  down  to  an  idol.  But  God  was  on  their 

side. 

There  was  once  a famous  man  of  God  named  Athan- 
asius, you  all  know  the  Creed  which  bears  his  name  in 
the  Prayer-book.  He  was  bold  enough  to  maintain 
the  true  faith  of  Christ  against  Emperors,  and  Bishops, 
and  he  was  driven  into  banishment  over  and  over 
again.  Some  of  his  friends  advised  him  to  give  in,  for, 
said  they,  the  world  is  against  you  ; “ Then/’  answered 
Athanasius,  “ I am  against  the  world.”  Now  you  must, 
as  Christ’s  soldiers,  “learn  to  suffer  and  be  strong.” 
Remember  the  Lord  Jesus  is  with  you,  and  He  will 
give  you  strength  enough  for  your  need,  you  must  do 
your  part,  be  sure  God  will  do  his  part.  You  must  not 
expect  difficulties  and  troubles  to  be  removed  out  of 
your  way,  nor  the  road  of  life  made  all  smooth  and 
easy  for  you.  If  we  are  lazy  in  our  work  we  can’t  suc- 
ceed, if  we  are  lazy  in  our  religion  we  can’t  expect  to 
be  rewarded.  To  win  a victory  we  must  fight,  to  get 
to  the  end  of  a journey  we  must  bear  fatigue.  Let  me 
tell  you  a fable  about  that  Three  animals,  an  ermine, 
a beaver,  and  a wild  boar,  made  up  their  minds  to  seek 
a better  country,  and  a new  home.  After  a long  and 
weary  journey,  they  came  in  sight  of  a beautiful  land 


76 


Cfullrmi’rf  SSrcatf. 


of  trees  and  gardens,  and  rivers  of  water.  The  travellers 
were  delighted  at  the  sight,  but  they  noticed  that  before 
they  could  enter  this  beautiful  land,  they  must  pass 
through  a great  mass  of  water,  filled  with  mud  and 
slime,  and  all  kind  of  snakes  and  other  reptiles.  The 
ermine  was  the  first  to  try  the  passage.  Now  the 
ermine  has  a very  delicate  fur  coat,  and  when  he  found 
how  foul  and  muddy  the  water  was,  he  drew  back,  and 
said,  that  the  country  was  very  beautiful,  but  that  he 
would  rather  lose  it  than  soil  his  beautiful  coat.  Then 
the  beaver  proposed  that  as  he  was  a good  architect,  as 
you  know  beavers  are,  he  should  build  a bridge  across 
the  lake,  and  so  in  about  two  months  they  might  get 
across  safely.  But  the  wild  boar  looked  scornfully  at 
his  companions,  and  plunging  into  the  water,  he  made 
his  way,  in  spite  of  mud  and  snakes,  to  the  other  side, 
saying  to  his  fellow-travellers,  “ Paradise  is  not  for 
cowards,  but  for  the  brave.” 

Dear  children,  between  you  and  the  Paradise  of  God 
there  lies  a long  journey,  the  enemy’s  country,  where 
the  devil  and  his  angels  will  fight  against  you,  where, 
there  are  deep  pools  of  trouble  to  be  gone  through, 
rough,  stony,  roads  of  temptation  to  be  traversed,  high 
rocks  of  difficulty  to  be  climbed : but  don’t  be  afraid, 
only  be  brave,  and  go  forward,  and  follow  Jesus  your 
leader,  and  you  will  be  able  to  say,  as  S.  Paul  said, 
“ Thanks  be  to  God,  who  giveth  us  the  victory,  through 


Cft?  Cfttttfmi’tf  Cru^atfc. 


77 


our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.”  Every  day  of  your  lives  there 
is  a battle  to  be  fought,  and  hard  work  to  be  done,  if 
you  are  really  good  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ.  Every 
day  you  must  fight  with  temper,  or  falsehood,  or  selfish- 
ness, or  pride,  or  idleness,  or  impurity  : you  must  fight 
yourselves,  and  help  others  to  fight,  remembering  whose 
soldiers  you  are,  Crusaders,  Soldiers  of  the  Cross. 

Well,  we  have  seen  that  soldiers  must  be  brave, 
what  else  must  they  be  ? Obedient  ? Can  you  remember 
any  one  mentioned  in  the  Bible,  who  was  a very  tall, 
powerful,  and  brave  soldier,  and  yet  not  a good  soldier, 
because  he  was  disobedient?  King  Saul.  Yes,  God 
told  Saul  to  do  a certain  thing,  and  he  did  not,  and 
God  would  no  longer  have  him  as  a soldier.  Do  you 
remember  what  was  said  to  him  ? “ Behold,  to  obey  is 

better  than  sacrifice.”  The  first  thing  a soldier  has  to 
learn  is  to  obey  orders.  If  you  really  love  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  you  will  keep  His  commandments. 

About  thirty  years  ago,  a troop-ship,  called  the 
Birkenhead, , struck  on  a rock  off  the  coast  of  Africa. 
There  were  a great  number  of  troops  on  board,  and 
when  all  who  could  be  saved  had  left  the  sinking  ship, 
the  officer  gave  the  order  for  the  soldiers  to  parade  and 
stand  at  attention,  and  so  standing,  as  firm  and  steady 
as  if  they  were  on  their  parade  ground  at  home,  officers 
and  men  went  down  with  the  ship.  They  obeyed  their 
orders. 


78 


&fjc  Cfjtttfrat’g  23rartr. 


Remember,  little  flock,  a soldier  must  not  do  what 
he  likes,  but  what  he  is  ordered  to  do.  May  the  dear 
Lord  help  you  to  be  brave,  and  faithful,  and  obedient 
soldiers  of  Him,  “ Whose  you  are,  and  Whom  you 


serve. 


SERMON  X. 


THE  PLEA  DING  SA  VI 0 UR. 
(<§0ott  dfriton).) 


Hebrews  vii.  25. 

41  He  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  them.” 

Can  you  tell  me  what  that  word  Intercession  means  ? 
A child  was  once  asked  the  question,  and  he  answered, 
“ It  means  speaking  a word  to  God  for  us.”  Supposing 
a servant  has  done  wrong,  and  his  master  is  going  to 
discharge  him.  And  suppose  a friend  of  the  master 
comes  to  him,  and  says,  “I  am  sorry  for  your  servant ; 
he  has  done  wrong  certainly,  but  I believe  he  is  peni- 
tent, and  I want  you  to  forgive  him,  and  give  him 
another  trial.”  Then  the  master  answers,  “ You 
have  done  me  much  good,  and  I am  deeply  indebted 


80 


Cljc  CIjtltfnm’3  23rcatr. 


to  you  : for  your  sake  I will  pardon  the  man.’’  So  by 
that  friend’s  intercession  the  servant  is  restored. 

Now  who  is  it  who  died  for  us  on  Good  Friday? 
The  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  And  who  is  it  who  “ever 
liveth  to  make  intercession  for  us  ?”  The  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  Did  our  Lord  intercede  for  men  before  Fie 
died  ? Yes,  when  Fie  was  on  the  earth  He  prayed  for 
all  men.  When  he  was  hanging  on  the  cruel  Cross  all 
those  terrible  hours  of  Good  Friday,  He  was  inter- 
ceding for  men.  Do  you  remember  one  of  his  speeches 
from  the  Cross— Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know 
not  what  they  do.”  That  was  an  intercession  for  his 
enemies.  Can  you  tell  me  anyone  who  was  forgiven  in 
answer  to  that  prayer  ? The  penitent  thief — he  went 
with  Jesus  into  Paradise.  Was  Christ’s  work  finished 
when  he  died  on  the  Cross  ? No,  He  rose  again  for 
our  justification  on  Easter  morning.  And  even  then 
His  work  was  not  done.  He  showed  his  Church  for 
forty  days,  all  that  must  be  done  and  taught  after  He 
was  gone  into  Heaven.  And  when  Jesus  ascended 
up  to  Heaven  His  work  was  not  done.  He  is  doing 
something  for  us  now — what  is  it  ? Interceding  for  us, 
pleading  before  the  throne  of  God.  Every  time  we 
repent,  and  are  truly  sorry  for  our  sin,  and  tell  God  so, 
Jesus  takes  our  prayer  and  our  confession,  and  offers  it 
as  a Priest  in  Heaven,  and  pleads  for  us,  showing  His 
pierced  hands  and  feet  and  side,  and  all  the  marks  of 


tJTIjf  ftfcntu'iijj  |S>atucur. 


81 


His  agony,  and  thus  He  pleads  the  Sacrifice  which  He 
offered  on  the  Cross,  and  makes  intercession  for  us 
sinners. 

Once,  among  the  old  Greeks,  there  was  a man  named 
^Eschylus,  and  he  was  condemned  to  death,  and  was 
going  to  be  led  to  execution.  He  had  a brother  called 
Amyntas,  who  had  gained  victories  for  Greece,  and  in 
one  battle  had  lost  his  hand.  Just  as  HSschylus  was 
going  forth  to  die,  Amyntas  entered  the  court,  and, 
without  saying  a word  to  the  Judges,  he  held  up  on 
high  the  arm  which  had  no  longer  a hand.  Then  the 
Judges  remembered  his  services,  and  pardoned  his 
brother.  Children,  the  dear  Lord  Jesus  is  ever  holding 
up  those  wounded  Hands  marked  with  the  cruel  nails, 
and  pleading  for  us.  Do  you  think  He  can  remember  the 
names  of  all,  even  of  the  little  children  like  you  ? Oh  ! 
yes,  a Father  never  forgets  His  children,  and  we  are 
God’s  children,  remember.  All  our  names  are  written 
on  the  heart  of  Jesus.  Are  any  of  you  careless  or 
thoughtless  on  this  sad,  solemn  day  ? Try  to  think,  try 
to  remember,  Jesus  is  interceding  for  me  now,  Jesus  is 
holding  up  His  pierced  Hands  for  me  now , my  name 
is  on  the  heart  of  Jesus  now.  You  know  many  people 
don’t  keep  Good  Friday  holy,  they  make  it  a day 
of  amusement  and  noise;  it  is  because  they  don’t 
stop  to  think , they  don’t  remember  what  Jesus  did, 

what  He  is  now  doing.  A friend  of  mine,  a clergyman 
F 


82 


QLfyt  Cfttltfrox’rf  2$rcatt. 


in  London,  was  going  one  Good  Friday  to  preach  in  a 
very  poor  neighbourhood.  As  he  hurried  along  the 
streets,  where  many  of  the  people  didn’t  seem  to  care 
about  the  day,  the  Church  bell  began  to  toll,  and  as  my 
friend  passed  two  young  men,  one  said  to  the  other, 
“ It  sounds  very  solemn,  doesn’t  it?” 

Yes,  my  children,  Good  Friday  is  a very  solemn 
day  indeed.  I want  you  to  be  very  serious.  You  know 
I like  to  see  you  happy  and  cheerful,  but  you  must  not 
suppose  all  life  is  going  to  be  a play-time.  As  you  grow 
older,  you  will  find  that — 

“ Life  is  real,  life  is  earnest,  * 

a very  serious  thing  indeed.  As  you  grow  older,  you 
will  find  that  the  pleasures  and  amusements,  which  you 
think  so  much  of  now,  pass  away  very  quickly.  I think 
you  have  all  seen  the  pictures  in  a magic  lantern.  You 
know  how  the  little  ones  shouted  with  delight  at  the  bright 
figures  on  the  curtain.  They  saw  blue  seas,  and  sunny 
skies,  and  waving  trees,  and  gilded  palaces,  and  their  little 
hands  were  stretched  out  to  grasp  the  beauteous  vision, 
and  lo  ! it  was  gone,  it  had  faded  away,  it  was  only  a 
dissolving  view.  Well,  my  children,  if  we  are  in  earnest, 
and  try  to  do  our  duty,  and  get  the  better  of  our  sins, 
then,  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  our  Intercessor,  God  will 
give  us  “such  good  things  as  pass  man’s  understand- 
ing,” and  a crown  “ that  fadeth  not  away.” 


€1 )z  pieatrwjj  5?abt0ttr* 


83 


Have  you  watched  children  blowing  bubbles  ? 
Perhaps  the  child  is  standing  by  the  churchyard  wall, 
and  the  bright  bubbles  rise  up  one  after  another,  the 
child  eagerly  watches  one  floating  globe  of  gold  and 
green  and  crimson,  and  presently  it  flies  over  the 
wall  of  the  Churchyard,  and  strikes  against  a tomb- 
stone, and  is  gone.  A good  many  people,  men  and 
women,  as  well  as  children,  spend  their  time  in  blowing 
bubbles.  One  mans  babble  is  to  grow  rich,  another’s 
bubble  is  pleasure,  but  all  these  bubbles  come  sooner 
or  later  to  the  churchyard,  and  end  there.  Be  in 
earnest,  children,  “ Seek  ye  first  the  Kingdom  of 
Heaven,  and  his  righteousness.” 

Now  I want  to  say  something  more  to  you  about 
intercession.  I have  told  you  that  Jesus  Christ  is 
always  pleading,  interceding  for  us.  We  should  try  to 
intercede  for  each  other,  to  pray  for  each  other.  When 
you  say  your  prayers  you  ask  God  to  forgive  you,  and 
to  help  you  to  be  good,  and  to  keep  you  from  dangers 
and  temptations,  and  you  pray  for  your  parents  and 
friends,  and  your  brothers  and  sisters.  But  I want  you 
to  do  more  than  this— to  pray  for  your  school-fellows,  and 
all  the  children  in  the  parish.  . How  blessed  a thing  it 
would  be,  if  in  every  parish  each  child  were  to  pray  for 
every  other  child.  Those  prayers  from  little  lips  would 
be  very  sweet  and  precious  in  Heaven,  and  the  dear 
Lord  Jesus  would  offer  them  as  a sacrifice  of  a “ sweet- 


84 


CIjc  CTjtltfrru’tf  53rcatr* 


smelling  savour.”  Oh  ! my  children,  pray  for  each 
other.  If  you  know  of  any  boys  or  girls  who  are  not 
going  on  well,  who  are  getting  into  bad  ways,  do  not 
speak  evil  of  them,  nor  judge  them,  but  just  pray  for 
them . 

I’ll  tell  you  about  an  Intercession  service,  which  I 
always  have  at  a Mission.  I put  up  a box  in  the 
Church,  and  ask  the  people  who  want  prayers  offered 
for  them,  to  write  down  their  request  on  a slip  of  paper, 
and  put  it  in  the  box.  I have  had  thousands  of  such 
papers,  and  very  sad  and  touching  many  of  them 
were.  Sisters  asked  us  to  pray  for  drunken  brothers, 
mothers  begged  us  to  pray  for  disobedient  children, 
people  who  had  committed  great  sins  asked  for  prayers, 
people  who  had  met  with  terrible  sorrow  asked  for 
prayer.  On  one  night  during  the  Mission,  when  the 
Church  is  full  of  people,  I kneel  before  the  Altar,  and 
read  out  these  petitions  one  after  another,  and  all  the 
people  say  after  each  is  read,  “ Hear  us,  Holy  Jesus.” 
Very  often  the  people  are  sobbing  and  crying  as  they 
intercede  one  for  another,  everyone  praying  for  everyone 
else.  I have  many  of  these  intercession  papers  sent  in 
by  children.  I remember  one,  it  was  written  in  a 
child’s  round-hand,  in  these  words,  “For  a little  boy, 
that  he  may  govern  his  temper.”  Another  was  from  a 
girl — she  wrote,  “ Do  please  pray  for  my  poor  drunken 
uncle,  I want  him  so  to  love  Jesus.”  I found  another 


€lj t $3Icathng  Jrahtaur. 


85 


of  these  papers  in  my  draw  to-day,  it  says,  “ Dear 
Missioner,  please  pray  for  my  wife,  as  she  is  not  able  to 
come  to  hear  your  dear  prayers  through  illness;  also  for 
me,  that  I may  live  a godly  life,  through  this  mission 
being  held  in  this  parish.”  Now  this  was  evidently 
written  by  some  poor  working  man,  and  spelt  all  wrong, 
but  it  was  so  thoroughly  true  and  real.  I never  like  to 
destroy  these  papers,  they  seem  to  me  like  letters 
addressed  to  God,  and  I’m  sure  he  does  not  mind  the 
bad  spelling.  Now  could  not  you  children  do  some- 
thing for  each  other,  and  have  an  intercession  service  ? 
At  least  you  could  do  this,  you  could  put  down  on  a 
card  or  a paper  the  object  of  your  intercession,  like 
this — For  the  children  of  such  a school,  for  the  children 
in  such  a street,  or  the  names  of  anyone  may  be  put 
down.  You  need  not  pray  for  children  only,  but  let 
the  children  be  the  children’s  special  subject  of  inter- 
cession. Yes,  and  I want  you  to  take  others  into  your 
prayers,  all  the  children  who  don’t  know  and  love 
Jesus.  Here  you  are  wellxared  for,  and  well  taught, 
but  in  London,  and  many  other  great  cities,  there  are 
hundreds  of  poor  children  who  are  brought  up  in  the 
streets  from  babies,  they  are  often  nearly  starving,  they 
are  taught  to  lie  and  steal ; they  live  in  the  midst  of 
dirt,  and  drink,  and  bad  talk,  and  they  do  not  know  or 
love  the  Lord  Jesus.  But  He  knows  them,  and  He 
intercedes  for  those  poor  waifs  and  strays.  “ Do  you 


£6 


Cbe  Cijtftrrtti’£  SSiTaft. 


hear  the  children  crying,  O my  brother,’’  that’s  what 
might  be  said  to  us — the  poor  neglected  children  crying 
for  bread,  and  above  all,  wanting  the  Children’s  Bread, 
the  Bread  of  Life.  Other  people,  older  and  stronger 
than  you,  are  beginning  to  help  tlies z gutter  children,  as 
they  are  called,  but  you  can  do  something,  a great 
deal,  if  you  pray  for  them.  Each  parish  might  pray 
for  the  neglected  children  in  some  special  place,  we 
might  pray  for  the  waifs  and  strays  of  London,  another 
parish  might  take  Liverpool,  and  so  on.  I will  tell  you 
about  a children’s  service  which  I once  held  at  a Mis- 
sion in  the  East  of  London.  There  were  boys  and 
girls  in  the  mission  room,  and  the  girls  were  very  quiet, 
but  the  boys  were  very  rough  and  disorderly.  It  was 
almost  impossible  to  make  them  listen.  There  was  one 
little  fellow,  about  five  or  six  years  old,  and  he  was 
crawling  about  on  the  floor  just  in  fiont  of  me,  and 
amusing  himself  by  blacking  his  face  at  the  stove.  The 
big  boys  kept  poking  at  him  with  sticks,  and  enjoying 
the  fun.  Well,  at  last  I could  not  get  their  attention 
fixed  at  all,  so  I took  up  the  little  boy  by  the  hand, 
and  asked  him  to  stand  by  me  on  the  altar  step  whilst 
I talked  to  them.  I thought  the  little  fellow  might  be 
frightened,  or  angry,  at  my  taking  him  up,  but  he 
stood  by  my  side  whilst  I preached,  as  good  as  possible, 
one  little  black  hand  in  mine.  When  all  the  rough, 
unruly  boys  saw  that  little  one  standing  quietly  there 


(Elje  picatrtttjj  Jrahtour. 


87 


they  became  quiet  too,  and  listened  very  attentively. 
When  I knelt  to  pray,  that  little  boy  knelt  by  my  side, 
and  put  his  little  dirty  hands  together.  You  can’t 
think  what  a help  and  comfort  that  little  child  was  to 
me  in  that  service  ; I thought  of  the  time  when  our 
Lord  took  a child,  and  set  him  in  the  midst,  and  when 
I saw  the  noisy  lads  grow  quiet,  I remembered  the 
words  of  the  prophet,  l<  A little  child  shall  lead  them.” 

We  shall  have  kept  this  Good  Friday  to  some  pur- 
pose, it  you  make  up  your  minds  for  the  future  to  make 
prayers  and  intercessions  for  the  children  of  this  place, 
and  those  in  London,  who  know  not  the  love  of  Jesus. 
Kneel  down  now,  and  ask  the  Lord  Jesus  to  hear  you: 

“ Intercessor,  Friend  of  sinners, 

Earth’s  Redeemer,  plead  for  me, 

Where  the  songs  of  all  the  sinless, 

Sweep  across  the  crystal  sea.’* 


SERMON  XI. 


SOWING  AND  GATHERING, 
(ea&ttvo 


i Cor.  xv.  38. 

“To  every  seed  his  own  body.** 

There  are  in  Rome  some  very  ancient  burying-places 
called  the  catacombs,  and  on  the  walls  there  are  many 
epitaphs  to  Christians  buried  there,  some  very  beautiful. 
One  of  these  epitaphs  is  exceedingly  short,  it  is  this — 
Tentianus  vivit , that  is,  Tentianus  lives . That  seems 
perhaps  a strange  thing  to  put  on  a grave,  yet  it  is  per- 
fectly true.  The  soul  of  that  Christian,  Tentianus,  is 
alive,  and  his  body  will  rise  again.  Sometimes  we  see 
a long  epitaph  on  a tomb  all  about  death,  as  if  that 
were  the  end  of  all  things.  The  people  who  write  these 


antr 


80 


gloomy  epitaphs  have  forgotten  the  Resurrection.  I 
like  the  words  in  the  Catacombs  best.  There  was  a 
great  painter  once  called  Albert  Durer,  he  lies  buried 
in  his  native  city  of  Nuremberg,  in  Germany,  and  on 
his  tomb-stone  they  have  put  the  word  Emigravit- — he 
has  gone  to  another  country. 

“ Emigravit  is  the  inscription  on  the  tomb-stone  where  he  lies  ; 

Dead  he  is  not — but  departed — for  the  artist  never  dies.*’ 

This  Easter  teaches  us  that  as  Jesus  rose  from  the 
grave  with  His  Body, so  shall  we  rise  with  our  body.  Where 
was  the  soul  of  Jesus  during  the  three  days  between 
the  Crucifixion  and  the  Resurrection  ? In  the  place  of 
departed  spirits.  Yes,  and  His  Body  was  in  Joseph’s 
new  tomb,  and  when  it  was  time  for  the  Resurrection, 
the  soul  came  back  into  the  body  again.  So  it  will  be 
with  us,  our  bodies  will  be  laid  in  a grave  in  the 
churchyard  or  cemetery — cemetery  means  a sleeping- 
place  you  know — and  our  souls  will  be  in  the  place  of 
departed  spirits,  and  when  the  great  day  of  Resurrec- 
tion comes,  we  shall  have  bodies  into  which  our  souls 
will  come  again.  But  you  are  thinking,  my  children, 
that  our  bodies  will  moulder  away  into  dust.  Yes,  but 
God  who  made  the  first  man  out  of  the  dust  can  make 
our  bodies  again  out  of  the  dust.  One  of  the  old 
saints  of  the  Church,  S.  Chrysostom,  whose  prayer, 
you  all  know,  explains  this  very  well  to  us.  He  says, 
that  when  we  pull  down  a house  in  order  to  re-build  it, 


90 


tZTIje  Cljttftrnt’ia  33reatr. 


or  repair  its  ruins,  we  take  the  inhabitants  out  of  it, 
lest  they  should  be  injured  by  the  dust  and  rubbish, 
and  we  find  them  some  other  dwelling  till  the  house  is 
rebuilt  and  beautified.  Then  we  bring  them  back  to 
their  old  home  made  into  a better  dwelling.  So  when 
God  overthrows  our  worn-out,  decayed  body,  all  falling 
to  pieces  from  disease  or  old  age,  He  calls  out  our  soul 
for  a time,  and  takes  care  of  it  in  some  part  of  His 
great  Kingdom  ; and  when  our  body  is  repaired  and 
restored,  and  made  fit  for  the  resurrection,  He  places 
our  soul  back  again  in  its  accustomed  home. 

You,  my  children,  all  knew  something  of  death,  for 
it  comes  to  all  houses  sooner  or  later.  There  is  a very 
beautiful  story  among  the  Indians,  which  tells  us  how 
a young  mother  lost  her  only  child,  and  went  in  the 
agony  of  her  grief  to  the  Great  Prophet  of  her  people, 
asking  if  the  dead  child  could  be  restored  to  life.  The 
prophet  told  her  that  if  she  could  obtain  a mustard- 
seed  from  a house  where  there  had  never  been  a death, 
her  child  should  be  given  back  to  life.  The  mother  at 
once  set  forth  among  the  houses  of  her  neighbours, 
and  begged  for  a mustard-seed.  At  the  first  house  the 
seed  was  given  readily ; but  when  she  asked  if  death 
bad  ever  been  there,  they  told  her  how  their  eldest  son 
had  died  there  in  the  midst  of  his  strength  and  beauty. 
Then  the  mother  turned  away  sadly,  and  sought  another 
house : but  there  they  spoke  of  the  white-haired  father 


Jrotmmj  a xits  <§alljn*tng. 


91 


who  had  passed  away.  In  another  home  they  told  of 
the  young  wife’s  death,  and  so  in  every  house  there 
was  a tale  of  death ; and  the  mother  knew  that  her 
child  might  not  return  to  her.  But  I want  you  to  feel 
that  although  death  comes  to  all  our  bodies,  we  are 
just  as  much  alive  five  minutes  after  death,  as  we  were 
five  minutes  before.  When  your  little  brother  died, 
you  missed  the  bright  smile,  and  the  loving  look  in  the 
eyes,  but  what  made  him  love  you,  and  smile  upon  you, 
is  just  as  much  alive  as  ever,  his  soul  has  only  gone 
from  one  kind  of  life  to  another.  So  when  you  walk 
through  the  churchyard,  God's  acre , as  it  has  been 
rightly  called,  I want  you  to  feel,  as  you  look  at  the 
tiny  graves  of  the  children,  that  their  tired  little  bodies 
are  only  resting  in  their  new  cradles  ; or  when  you  stand 
by  the  grave  of  father  or  mother,  I want  you  to  be 
able  to  say,  not  “ Here  lies  my  dead  father,”  but,  “I 
believe  in  the  resurrection,  my  father  lives.,,  If  we 
did  not  believe  in  the  resurrection,  the  churchyard 
would  be  a sad  place  indeed,  we  should  be  obliged 
to  say — 

“Colder,  colder,  colder  still, 

Upward  steals  a vapour  chill ; 

Strong  the  earthly  odour  grows — 

I smell  the  mould  above  the  rose/ 

But  when  we  believe  in  the  resurrection,  the  church- 
yard becomes  God’s  garden,  and  all  the  dead  bodies 


92 


dje  CfitttiraihS  23rcatf. 


are  precious  seeds  sown  there,  one  day  to  grow  up 
into  glorified  bodies ; and  we  can  say — 

“O’er  the  earth  there  comes  a bloom  • 

Sunny  light  for  sullen  gloom, 

Warm  perfume  for  vapour  cold — 

I smell  the  rose  above  the  mould.” 

Now  let  us  look  at  the  resurrection  in  another  way. 
God’s  world  is  always  showing  us  a resurrection.  You 
sow  a seed  in  your  garden,  and  it  comes  up  as  a new 
body,  a flower.  The  chrysalis  opens,  and  there  comes 
forth  a butterfly,  the  resurrection  body  of  what  was 
once  a caterpillar,  S.  Paul  tells  us  that  God  gives  “to 
every  seed  his  own  body,”  that  means,  that  if  you  sow 
wheat  it  will  come  up  wheat,  if  you  sow  thistle  seed  you 
will  gather  thistles. . What  you  sow  you  will  reap. 
Now  remember,  that  all  your  acts  and  words  and 
thoughts  are  like  so  many  seeds  sown,  they  will  come  up, 
they  will  have  a resurrection.  You  may  have  forgotten 
wrhat  you  said  or  did  some  time  ago,  but  it  will  come  up, 
and  bear  fruit,  it  will  have  a resurrection  here,  and 
at  the  Day  of  Judgment  it  will  rise  again.  All  the 
good  things  we  have  been  able  to  do,  the  kind  acts 
done  to  the  poor  and  needy,  the  loving  words  spoken 
to  our  parents  or  friends,  these  are  not  lost  or  forgotten. 
They  will  grow  up,  and  on  the  Judgment  Day  they 
will  stand  round  us  like  sweet-smelling  flowers.  Think, 
my  children,  each  time  you  try  to  do  right  for  Christ’s 


antf  (SatSrrtn^. 


93 


dear  sake,  each  time  you  deny  yourself,  or  give  up 
your  own  way,  or  conquer  a bad  thought,  just  think — 
“I  am  sowing  a good  seed  for  the  Day  of  Judgment, 
it  will  blossom  and  smell  sweet  on  the  great  day  of 
gathering  in  the  Harvest.”  Yes,  and  the  bad  things  we 
do,  and  say,  and  think,  they  too  are  seeds,  and  they 
will  grow  up  a bitter  crop,  both  here  and  hereafter. 
All  our  acts,  good  and  bad,  have  a resurrection. 
There  is  a fable  among  the  ancients,  that  Jason  sowed 
the  ground  with  dragon’s  teeth,  and  there  sprang  up  an 
army  of  fierce  armed  men.  Every  sin  wilfully  com- 
mitted, every  mean,  cruel  action,  every  bad  word 
spoken,  every  impure  thought  indulged  in,  is  a dragon’s 
tooth  sown,  and  it  will  spring  up  into  an  enemy  of  our 
peace.  What  sort  of  resurrection  can  you  look  forward 
to  ? It  depends  on  what  seed  you  are  sowing — don’t 
sow  thorns  and  brambles , they  will  grow  up  to  tear  you 
and  others  also.  Angry  tempers,  passionate  words, 
sulky  humours,  these  are  all  thorns  and  brambles,  and 
they  will  make  you  suffer,  and  those  about  you.  When 
a child  is  disobedient,  wilful,  violent,  he  is  platting  a 
crown  of  thorns,  do  you  know  for  whom  ? for  himself, 
for  his  friends,  and  above  all  for  Jesus.  Stop  and  think, 
when  you  are  tempted  to  do  wrong,  “ I’m  doing  what 
those  cruel  men  did  of  old,  I’m  platting  a crown  of  thorns 
for  Jesus.”  Don’t  sow  nettles  and  thistles , those  prickly, 
stinging  things  will  grow  up  to  hurt  you,  and  others 


94 


€I)c  Cljiltrriu’g  SSrratr. 


also.  Ill-tempered,  fretful,  discontented  people  are 
sowing  nettles  and  thistles,  and  they  are  sure  to  have  a 
large  crop.  But  what  a disagreable  crop  it  is  ! You 
can  no  more  be  happy  with  an  ill-tempered  person, 
or  a fretful  person,  or  a grumbling  person,  than  you 
can  sleep  comfortably  in  a bed  full  of  prickly  thistles 
and  stinging  nettles.  I will  tell  you  what  to  sow,  sow 
sweeltiess  and  you  will  gather  sweetness.  Once  a little 
boy  sowed  the  seed  of  a violet  on  a bank  in  his  garden. 
Before  long  he  was  taken  away  to  a foreign  land, 
where  he  grew  up  to  be  a man.  After  long  years  he 
came  back,  and  went  to  visit  his  old  home.  In  the 
garden  he  found  a bank  covered  with  sweet-smelling 
violets.  He  had  sown  sweetness,  and  he  gathered  it. 
Every  little  loving  word,  every  little  kindly  act  of  ours, 
is  like  the  violet  seed,  it  will  grow,  and  bring  us  a crop 
of  love  and  sweetness.  Ask  the  dear  Lord  Jesus  to 
sow  in  your  hearts  the  seed  of  love  and  kindliness,  of 
gentleness  and  faith,  ask  Him  for  good  seed,  that  you 
may  sow  it  day  by  day  in  the  field  of  this  world,  and 
it  will  grow;  so  that  on  the  great  Easter  day  of 
all,  at  the  end  of  the  world,  you  shall  stand  with  glori- 
fied bodies,  and  every  good  thing,  which  God  has  given 
you  strength  to  do,  shall  blossom  as  a sweet  flower  at 
the  feet  of  Jesus. 


SERMON  XII. 


GOD’S  GREAT  FAMILY . 


Psalm  l.  ix. 

lt  I know  all  the  fowls  of  the  mountains ; and  the  wild  beasts  of 
the  field  are  mine.’’ 

I am  going  to  talk  to  you  about  being  kind  to  animals. 
God  is  love,  and  He  cares  for  all  His  creatures.  Do  not 
suppose  that  because  you  are  so  much  bigger  and 
stronger  than  a fly  that  you  have  a right  to  be  cruel  to 
it.  The  same  God  who  made  you,  made  the  fly,  and 
as  He  gave  you  the  power  of  walking  upright  on  your 
feet,  He  gave  the  fly  the  power  of  walking  upside  down 
on  a ceiling.  Both  you  and  the  fly  are  members  of  God’s 
great  family.  There  was  once  a holy  man  of  God 
named  S.  Francis,  he  was  good  and  loving  to  all  men, 


96 


Che  &TjtRrrtn’£  23rcaXr* 


and  not  only  to  them,  but  to  all  God’s  creatures.  He 
used  to  call  the  birds  and  the  beasts  his  brothers  and 
sisters,  because  he  loved  everything  which  God  had 
made,  and  when  he  was  dying  he  was  perfectly  peace- 
ful and  happy,  and  said  with  his  last  breath,  “ Wel- 
come, sister  Death.” 

Now  no  one  has  a right  to  be  called  a good  Christian 
who  is  cruel  to  any  of  God’s  creatures.  Our  religion 
is  not  worth  much  if  our  dogs  and  cats  and  other 
animals  don’t  come  in  for  a share  of  it.  Very  often 
men  and  boys  are  very  brutal  and  cruel  to  the  horses 
and  donkeys  which  they  have  to  drive.  It  is  a common 
mistake  to  say  that  a donkey  is  a very  stupid  and  very 
obstinate  animal,  and  that  the  more  he  is  knocked 
about  the  better  he  works.  Now  that’s  all  wrong.  A 
donkey  is  not  naturally  stupid,  nor  obstinate.  He  is 
very  thoughtful,  he  always  thinks  where  he  is  going  to 
put  his  feet,  that  is  what  makes  him  so  sure-footed. 
It  often  happens  that  the  boy  who  is  driving  the  donkey 
is  stupid,  and  he  is  too  blind  to  see  his  own  fault,  and 
so  thinks  it  is  in  the  donkey,  Then  a donkey  is  not 
naturally  obstinate,  he  is  not  flighty  or  excitable  like 
some  people,  but  very  sober,  and  steady,  and  trust- 
worthy, and  so  his  enemies  give  him  a bad  name  and 
call  him  obstinate.  But  you  may  spoil  the  donkey’s 
temper  as  you  may  spoil  a child’s.  If  you  are  contin- 
ually knocking  a boy  about  the  head  with  a thick  sticK, 


<&vtzt  dfanulm 


97 


you  can’t  expect  him  to  grow  up  very  intelligent  or 
very  sweet-tempered-  And  so  if  you  treat  an  animal 
in  that  way,  and  half  starve  him  into  the  bargain,  it  is 
your  own  fault  if  he  becomes  stubborn.  Kindness  will 
work  wonders,  where  the  stick  will  only  make  failures. 
I have  said  a donkey  is  not  naturally  stupid.  I have 
one  at  home,  a great  pet  with  my  children.  She  always 
looks  round  at  me  when  I call  her  by  name,  and 
comes  up  to  me  in  the  meadow,  and  expects  something 
nice  in  my  hand.  But  if  a boy  tries  to  catch  her,  she 
puts  back  her  ears  and  runs  at  him,  because  she  looks 
on  boys  as  her  natural  enemies.  She  knows  the  differ- 
ence between  friends  and  foes.  I know  a donkey  who 
would  open  the  churchyard  gate,  in  order  to  graze  on 
the  grass,  and  I have  read  of  a still  more  wonderful 
animal  in  Spain.  There  they  treat  donkeys  very  well, 
the  Spaniards  know  they  are  neither  stupid  nor 
obstinate,  and  so  they  make  pets  of  them,  and  feed 
and  groom  them  carefully,  and  they  are  handsome  and 
prosperous-looking.  Well,  a certain  poor  man  in  Spain 
had  for  many  years  carried  milk  into  Madrid,  to  supply 
his  regular  customers.  Every  morning  he  and  his  don- 
key travelled  the  same  road.  ..  The  man  fell  ill,  and 
had  no  one  to  send  to  market.  The  wife  suggested 
that  they  should  send  the  donkey  alone.  The  panniers 
were  filled  with  the  milk-cans,  and  the  village  Priest 
wrote  an  inscription,  asking  customers  to  measure 

G 


98 


£Ij c Clj{ttrr*n’£  Brratf. 


their  own  milk,  and  return  the  vessels.  The  donkey 
set  off  with  his  load,  and  in  time  returned  with  his 
milk-cans  empty.  This  he  did  for  several  days.  In 
Madrid  the  bell-handles  mostly  hang  down  by  the  side 
of  the  walls,  and  it  appears  that  the  donkey  had  stopped 
before  each  customer’s  house,  and  if  no  one  came  in  a 
little  while,  he  pulled  down  the  handle  with  his  mouth 
and  rang  the  bell.  Now  I don’t  think  we  must  call  a 
donkey  stupid  after  that, 

If  any  of  you  are  tempted  to  be  unkind  and  cruel  to 
an  animal,  just  try  to  put  yourself  in  his  place.  Think 
to  yourself,  how  should  I like  to  be  treated  in  this 
way.  You  know  that  the  old  heathen  used  to  think 
that  men’s  souls  after  death  passed  into  different 
animals,  so  that  he  who  had  been  a great  soldier  or 
speaker  might  become  a dog,  or  a lion,  or  a horse, 
Now  if  that  could  really  be  the  case,  if  some  of  you 
children  were  to  become  dogs,  or  horses,  or  donkeys, . 
don’t  you  think  you  would  find  it  very  hard  to  be 
kicked,  and  beaten,  and  sworn  at,  when  all  the  time 
you  were  doing  your  best  ? Ah  ! If  the  animals  could 
speak  to  us,  as  Balaam’s  ass  did  once,  what  sad, 
reproachful  things  they  would  have  to  say ! 

A man  was  cruelly  beating  a horse  one  day,  and  a 
neighbour  remonstrated  with  him,  and  asked  him  why 
he  did  it.  “ Because,”  said  the  man,  “ he  is  the  most 


threat  dfamtln. 


99 


obstinate  and  ill-conditioned  beast  in  the  world.”  “ Ah,” 
said  the  neighbour,  “ I should  like  to  bear  what  the 
horse  has  to  say  about  it.”  If  you  could  change  places 
with  the  donkey  you  were  belabouring  so  unmercifully 
yesterday,  I wonder  what  you  would  say  to  the  heavy 
blows  showered  upon  your  head  and  sides.  There  is  a 
fable  of  an  enchantress  called  Circe,  who  turned  a 
number  of  people  into  pigs.  I wish  just  for  one  day 
the  old  fairy  tales  would  come  true,  and  all  the  unkind 
boys  and  girls  could  be  changed  into  the  animals  which 
they  ill-use,  and  could  feel  in  their  own  bodies  what  the 
poor  dumb  cattle  feel  in  theirs.  Well,  that  cannot  be, 
but  I hope  you  will  try  to  remember  my  words,  and 
think  of  the  sin  of  causing  God’s  creatures  unnecessary 
pain. 

Sometimes  when  I am  walking  along  the  roads  I hear 
lads  swearing  at  the  horses  which  they  are  driving. 
Nothing  seems  to  me  much  more  cowardly  and  con- 
temptible, than  to  use  bad  language  to  a poor  dumb 
animal  who  cannot  answer.  Every  one  of  those  bad 
words  are  set  down  in  God’s  Book  be  sure,  though 
they  were  only  spoken  to  an  animal.  “That  horse 
knows  perfectly  well  when  I swear  at  him,”  said  a 
coachman  to  a passenger.  “Yes,”  was  the  answer, 
“and  so  does  God.”  We  have  no  more  right  to  abuse 
or  illtreat  an  animal  than  we  have  to  abuse  or  ill-treat 
a man,  the  same  God  is  the  Maker  of  both.  Be  kind 


100 


dThc  Cbtltfrax’g  25rcatt. 


to  all  God’s  creatures,  and  you  will  win  their  love  and 
gratitude. 

Do  you  remember,  children,  the  story  of  Androcles 
and  the  lion?  Androcles  took  a thorn  out  of  a lion’s 
foot,  and  sometime  afterwards  he  was  ordered  to  be 
thrown  to  the  wild  beasts  by  the  cruel  ruler  of  his 
city.  When  all  the  crowd  had  met  together  in  the 
amphitheatre,  expecting  to  see  Androcles  torn  to  pieces 
by  a lion,  to  their  astonishment  the  animal  came  for- 
ward and  licked  the  man’s  hand,  for  it  was  the  very 
lion  for  which  Androcles  had  done  a good  turn.  Then 
all  the  people  were  amazed,  and  the  prisoner  was  set 
free.  We  read  in  the  newspapers  lately  of  an  elephant 
which  remembered  an  injury,  and  crushed  to  death  a 
man  who  months  before  had  treated  it  most  cruelly, 

I advise  you  children  to  try  to  study  the  habits  of 
animals,  watch  them  when  you  are  out  in  the  fields,  read 
about  them  in  a book  of  natural  history,  and  when  you 
find  what  wonderful  sense  and  knowledge  God  has 
given  to  them,  you  will  not  venture  to  be  cruel.  If 
you  watch  a bird  building  her  nest,  or  sitting  on  her 
eggs,  while  her  mate  sings  to  her  in  the  green  wood, 
you  will  not  feel  inclined,  I think,  to  go  and  destroy 
that  poor  bird’s  house  with  wanton  hands.  On  a sunny 
day  in  summer  nothing  is  more  beautiful  than  the 
butterflies  which  float  about  like  winged  flowers  in  the 


<L>atT3  (Srcat  jfamtlin 


101 


air.  Yet  as  soon  as  some  of  you  children  catch  sight 
of  them,  you  take  off  your  caps,  and  try  to  catch 
them.  And  if  you  succeed,  what  then  ? Look  into 
your  hot  hand,  and  you  will  see  a poor,  bruised,  dingy- 
looking  insect,  all  its  beauty  gone.  You  have  spoilt 
what  God  made  beautiful,  just  as  some  wanton  people 
will  pick  lovely  flowers,  and  trample  them  under  foot. 
Again  I say,  study  the  nature  of  animals,  and  you  will 
find  that  many  despised  creatures,  such  as  the  toad  for  in- 
stance, are  quite  harmless,  and  very  useful.  You  have  no 
idea  what  wonderful  creatures  even  the  smallest  and 
commonest  of  insects  are.  Solomon  says,  1 ‘Go  to  the  ant, 
thou  sluggard  and  indeed  everyone,  whether  he  be 
idle  or  industrious,  can  learn  something  from  an  ant’s 
nest.  I have  not  time  to  tell  you  half  of  the  wonderful 
things  connected  with  ants.  Their  nests  are  just  like 
cities,  and  there  are  different  classes  of  ants  to  do 
different  kinds  of  work/  The  very  young  ants,  whose 
skin  is  soft  and  tender,  devote  themselves  to  feeding 
the  little  white  grubs,  which  change  in  time  into 
insects.  As  they  grow  older  and  stronger  the  ants  do 
other  kinds  of  work,  for  one  thing  they  become 
soldiers,  and  go  out  to  battle,  or  defend  the  nest 
against  enemies.  Do  you  knotv  that  some  kinds  of 
ants  keep  slaves  ? Well,  these  ants  go  out  to  find  food 
for  their  mistresses,  who  stay  at  home  and  attend  to 
household  duties.  If  any  one  ant  is  taken  prisoner 


102 


(£f) z Cfitltrrm’tf  23rratr. 


when  out  on  a foraging  expedition,  or  is  otherwise 
prevented  from  returning  home,  another  is  sent  out  to 
take  his  place.  I dare  say  you  never  heard  that  some 
kinds  of  ants  keep  cows . Their  cows  are  a certain  kind 
of  green  fly,  which  is  often  found  on  flowers,  and  they 
give  a sweet  fluid,  which  is  to  the  ant  what  milk 
is  to  us.  These  wonderful  creatures  build  covered 
cow-sheds  in  the  earth  for  their  tiny  cattle.  Ants  are 
very  fond  of  keeping  pets,  only  they  make  them  work 
for  their  living.  Two  kinds  of  insects  are  found  in  the 
galleries  of  an  ant’s  nest,  and  it  is  supposed  that  they 
are  the  scavengers  who  keep  clear  the  streets  of  the 
wonderful  insect  city.  A curious  little  beetle,  which  is 
quite  blind,  is  found  living  among  the  ants.  He  seems 
to  be  very  helpless,  and  cannot  even  feed  himself,  and 
the  ants  take  great  care  of  him,  and  keep  him  perfectly 
clean,  oftentimes  they  may  be  seen  licking  him  all 
over.  As  the  blind  beetle  does  not  seem  to  have  any- 
thing to  do,  perhaps  the  ants  keep  him  out  of  charity, 
like  an  old  blind  man  in  an  alms  house.  There  is  one 
kind  of  ants  called  the  Amazons,  and  they  teach  us  a 
lesson  on  the  folly  of  depending  upon  others,  instead 
of  helping  ourselves.  These  Amazon  ants  keep  slaves  to 
do  all  the  work  for  them,  and  they  have  actually  lost 
their  teeth  from  want  of  using  them,  and  they  cannot 
even  feed  themselves.  They  have  been  seen  to  be 
starving  in  the  midst  of  food,  because  there  were  no 


6rcat  JfamtTin 


103 


slaves  to  feed  them.  But  I must  not  stay  to  talk  to 
you  any  more  about  the  ants.  What  I want  you  to 
learn  is,  that  you  must  never  despise  any  of  God’s 
creatures,  however  small.  “ In  wisdom  hath  he  made 
them  all.”  I wonder  if  there  is  any  Heaven  for  the 
animals  ! Many  wise  and  good  men  have  thought  that 
there  is.  One  thing  I am  quite  sure  of,  there  will  be 
no  Heaven  for  those  who  are  cruel  to  any  of  God’s 
creatures.  If  we  really  love  God  we  shall  love  our 
brother  also,  yes,  and  all  the  humble  brothers  and 
sisters,  the  beasts  and  the  birds  and  the  insects,  of 
God’s  Great  Family. 

“ He  prayeth  best,  who  loveth  best 
All  things  both  great  and  small ; 

For  the  dear  God  who  loveth  us, 

He  made  and  loveth  all.” 


SERMON  XIII. 


LEARNING  TO  WALK. 


Eph.  v.  8. 

“ Walk  as  children  of  light.” 

I suppose  that  all  you  boys  and  girls  think  that  you 
know  how  to  walk.  You  would  laugh  at  the  idea  of 
being  taught  how  you  are  to  use  your  legs  now,  as  you 
were  when  you  were  babies. -.'Well,  we  will  see.  You 
all  know  how  to  walk  along  the  country  lanes 
and  turnpike  roads,  but  if  you  were  to  go  to  London 
for  the  first  time,  you  would  find  that  you  did  not 
know  how  to  walk.  I have  sometimes  seen  a country- 
man in  one  of  the  crowded  streets  of  the  City  of  Lon- 
don, trying  to  make  his  way  along,  and  every  minute 


Eftirntnjg  to  OHalft. 


10-5 


he  would  run  against  some  passenger,  and  get  in  the 
way  of  another,  till  the  busy  city  folks  were  quite  angry 
with  him.  There  is  a particular  way  of  walking  in 
crowded  streets,  and,  like  everything  else,  it  has  to  be 
learned. 

But  there  is  another  kind  of  walking  which  has  to  be 
learned.  We  hear  a great  deal  about  that  in  the  Bible. 
S.  Paul  has  much  to  say  about  how  we  ought  to  walk, 
and  he  was  not  writing  to  little  tiny  children,  but  to 
grown  up  men  and  women.  In  this  very  chapter  from 
which  my  text  comes,  we  read  these  words — “ Be  ye 
followers  of  God,  as  dear  children,  and  walk  in  love 
see  that  ye  walk  circumspectly,  not  as  fools  but  as  wise 
redeeming  the  time.”  In  another  chapter  S.  Paul 
writes,  “ I beseech  you  that  ye  walk  worthy  of  the 
vocation  wherewith  ye  are  called.5,  In  another  place 
we  read,  “ Let  us  walk  honestly,  as  in  the  day.”  And 
again,  “ Walk  in  the  Spirit,  and  ye  shall  not  fulfil  the 
lusts  of  the  flesh.”  “ As  ye  have  received  Christ  Jesus 
the  Lord,  so  walk  ye  in  Plim.” 

Now  there  are  only  two  roads  on  which  we  can 
walk.  One  is  the  broad  road  which  leads  to  destruc- 
tion, the  devil’s  road.  It  seems  easy  to  travel  on  it  at 
first,  but  it  grows  harder  and  rougher  as  we  go  on,  for 
“ the  way  of  transgressors  is  hard.”  You  know  what 
the  other  road  is  ? The  King’s  Highway,  the  narrow 


106 


(Ej Cbtltfrcu’tf  3Srattr. 


path  which  leads  to  life  eternal,  God’s  Way,  of  which 
He  says,  “Walk  ye  in  it.”  Very  often  this  road  is 
difficult  to  journey  on,  it  is  very  steep  and  up  hill 
sometimes,  but  there  is  always  some  one  to  help  us, 
and  there  are  the  foot-marks  of  One  who  has  gone 
before  us,  to  show  us  the  way.  You  know  that  we 
sing  a hymn  sometimes,  in  which  are  the  words — 

“ O let  me  see  Thy  foot-prints, 

And  in  them  plant  mine  own,” 

Well,  those  are  the  foot-prints  of  Jesus  Christ,  aud  He 
has  gone  before  us  along  the  path  of  holiness,  and 
patience,  and  sorrow,  to  show  us  the  way.  Some  of 
you  children  have  no  doubt  heard  of  King  Canute  the 
Dane,  who  was  King  of  England,  and  who  rebuked 
his  courtiers  by  bidding  the  waves  obey  him  ? One 
day,  long  ago,  Canute  was  staying  in  a village  among 
the  fens,  and  he  wished  to  cross  over  to  the  Isle  of 
Ely.  The  weather  was  very  cold,  and  the  fens  were 
all  frozen,  so  that  the  only  way  to  reach  the  Island  was 
by  sledge.  But  it  was  a very  dangerous  journey,  for 
there  were  places  where  the  ice  was  rotten,  and  would 
not  bear  the  weight  of  a sledge,  and  in  other  places 
there  were  holes  and  deep  pools.  Whilst  King  Canute 
was  doubting  what  was  best  to  be  done,  a poor  labourer, 
who  had  got  the  nickname  of  Bodge,  because  he  was 
big  and  stout,  came  forward,  and  offered  to  go  before 
the  king’s  sledge,  and  find  a safe  track  for  him.  So 


Ewrntns  tn  CTfalk. 


107 


they  started  on  their  journey,  feeling  quite  safe,  since 
if  the  ice  would  bear  poor  Bodge  it  would  bear  the 
sledge.  When  they  reached  Ely,  the  king  found  that 
the  labourer  was  a slave,  and  he  set  him  free,  and  gave 
him  a great  reward.  When  I read  that  story,  I was 
reminded  how  the  dear  Lord  Jesus  has  gone  over  the 
difficult  road  before  us  to  lead  the  way  to  rest  and 
peace.  When  the  journey  seems  very  hard,  and  it  is 
very  difficult  sometimes  for  little  children,  and  for  men 
and  women,  to  walk  in  the  right  way — then  remember 
that  Jesus  has  gone  before,  and  that  He  can  and  will 
give  you  strength  to  walk  in  His  holy  ways.  Here  are 
some  plain  rules  for  you,  my  children,  which  will 
show  you  how  you  ought  to  walk  through  life  as  God’s 
children,  as  children  of  light. 

First  of  all,  then,  keep  io  the  right.  You  will  often 
see  these  words  printed  up  in  the  crowded  streets  of 
great  cities.  Your  own  conscience  will  tell  you  what  is 
right,  and  whenever  there  are  two  ways  for  you  to  go 
in,  the  right  or  the  wrong,  be  sure  to  keep  to  the  right. 

The  next  rule  I give  you  is,  keep  your  eyes  open . If 
you  were  to  walk  along  a road  with  your  eyes  shut,  you 
would  soon  stumble  or  fall,  or  wander  out  of  the  right 
path ; but  if  you  keep  your  eyes  open,  you  see  the 
rough  places  over  which  you  might  stumble,  and  the 
muddy  places  where  you  might  splash  your  clothes 


10S 


Kl)t  CIjtBfrcn^  SSrratr. 


with  dirt,  and  you  can  see  the  finger-post  showing  you 
the  right  way.  Well,  in  walking  along  the  path  of  life 
you  will  need  to  keep  your  eyes  open.  There  are 
dangerous  places,  over  which  you  will  stumble  and  fall, 
unless  you  watch  for  them  carefully  ; there  are  tempta- 
tions, like  muddy  pools,  which  will  stain  your  white 
robe,  and  make  it  foul,  unless  you  avoid  them.  If 
you  keep  your  eyes  open,  you  will  see  God’s  Hand 
directing  you,  and  you  will  find  that  He  has  placed 
many  finger-posts  to  show  you  the  right  way.  The 
Church  is  one  finger-post,  the  Bible  is  another,  your 
teachers  are  all  pointing  out  to  you  the  right  road.  If 
you  were  to  journey  along  with  your  eyes  shut,  you 
might  meet  with  bad  company,  with  those  who  would 
rob  you,  and  wound  you.  There  is  plenty  of  such  bad 
company  on  the  road  of  life.  There  are  bad  boys  and 
girls  who  will  try  to  lead  you  out  of  the  right  way,  out 
of  the  King’s  highway,  into  some  back  lane  of  sin. 
They  want  to  rob  you,  to  take  your  good  name  from 
you,  to  strip  off  the  dress  which  God  gave  you  in  Holy 
Baptism.  Keep  your  eyes  open,  my  children,  and  see 
well  what  sort  of  company  you  keep.  And  not  only 
keep  your  eyes  open,  but  don't  wear  spectacles . I don’t 
mean  actual  spectacles,  you  may  need  them  some  day, 
when  you  grow  older ; what  I mean  is  that  some  people 
see  things  quite  wrongly,  because  they  look  at  them 
through  coloured  spectacles.  I know  some  people 


learning  ta  ©SJalfc. 


10& 


who  always  seem  gloomy  and  discontented.  Nothing 
suits  them.  The  weather  is  always  wrong,  they  say  the 
sun  never  shines,  and  the  rain  is  always  falling.  Why 
is  it  ? Because  they  are  looking  at  everything  through 
dark  spectacles , and  so  everything  seems  dark  to  them. 
There  are  some  boys  and  girls  of  this  kind.  At  school 
they  are  generally  grumbling.  They  complain  that  the 
food  is  bad,  that  the  teachers  are  unkind,  and  that  they 
themselves  are  very  unlucky.  It  is  just  because  they 
are  looking  at  things  through  dark-coloured  spectacles. 
You  find  them  murmuring  over  their  sdhool-work.  They 
never  can  read  that  hard  book,  they  tell  us,  they  never 
can  master  that  difficult  sum  ! It  is  all  the  fault  of  the 
dark  spectacles.  Sometimes  we  find  children  very 
quarrelsome,  always  saying  unkind  things  to  each  other, 
and  if  we  ask  them  the  reason,  they  tell  us  that  some 
one  is  so  cross,  or  so  unkind,  but  the  fault  is  in  them- 
selves. They  have  been  looking  at  a companion’s  face 
through  black  spectacles.  Some  children  look  at 
things  through  magnifying  glasses.  Every  little  fault 
in  a companion  is  magnified,  till  it  looks  quite  big  and 
terrible.  When  they  come  to  look  at  themselves,  they 
magnify  their  own  goodness,  and  they  think  they  are 
wonderfully  clever,  pleasant,  amiable  people.  My 
children,  don’t  look  through  these  glasses.  - 

My  next  piece  of  advice  to  you  is,  push  your  way . 
There  are  sure  to  be  difficulties  in  your  path.  You  can 


110 


dTIje  CljtttJren^  23rcatr. 


do  one  of  two  things,  you  can  wait  for  the  difficulty  to 
be  removed,  or  you  can  push  your  way  through  it.  In 
large  towns,  where  there  are  great  public  buildings, 
such  as  banks  and  offices,  you  often  see  a heavy  door 
leading  into  the  building,  and  on  it  is  written  the  one 
word,  push . Now,  suppose  you  wished  to  enter  that 
building;  you  might  pull  at  that  door  for  hours  and 
not  open  it ; you  might  ring  the  bell,  or  call  to  some- 
one to  open,  but  everybody  would  be  too  busy  to  listen. 
There  would  be  only  one  thing  for  you  to  do,  you 
must  pushy  then  the  door  would  open.  So  it  is  with 
all  difficulties,  “where  there’s  a will  there’s  a way,”  if 
you  push  against  the  door  which  is  blocking  your 
way,  it  will  open. 

There  was  a famous  painter  at  Antwerp  long  ago,  called 
Quintin  Matsys.  He  was  a blacksmith  at  first,  and  this 
is  how  he  became  a painter.  He  fell  in  love  with  a young 
woman,  but  her  father  refused  to  let  her  marry  the 
blacksmith  unless  he  painted  a great  picture.  Now 
here  was  a great  difficuliy  in  the  way.  Quintin  Matsys 
knew  something  about  painting,  but  much  more  about 
a blacksmith's  anvil.  He  did  not  give  up  his  purpose, 
however  ; he  studied  and  painted  early  and  late,  and 
in  six  months  he  produced  his  famous  picture,  The, 
Misers , and  won  his  wife.  On  his  own  portrait  he 
wrote  the  words,  “ Love  made  me  a painter.”  If  you 
want  to  succeed  in  anything,  my  children,  you  must  push. 


Ucarmntj  ta  E&Jalk. 


ill 


If  you  want  to  be  good  children,  to  walk  as  children 
of  light,  you  must  push  your  way  through  the  tempta- 
tions and  difficulties  of  life.  Remember  there  is 
always  another  hand  helping  you.  God  helps  those 
who  help  themselves.  God  expects  us  to  do  something 
for  ourselves.  When  He  sent  the  quails  to  the  Children 
of  Israel  in  the  wilderness,  they  had  to  prepare  and 
cook  them.  When  He  rained  down  manna  for  them 
to  eat,  they  had  to  go  out  and  gather  it. 

Take  another  word  of  advice,  when  you  meet  with 
your  enemy,  fight . I don’t  mean  an  earthly  enemy, 
and  I don’t  mean  fighting  with  your  fists.  As  you 
walk  along  the  roads  of  life,  your  enemy,  the  devil, 
will  often  stand  in  the  path  to  injure  you,  to  turn  you 
out  of  the  way,  “Whom  resist,  steadfast  in  the  faith • 
The  ancient  Greeks,  who  were  the  most  famous  soldiers 
of  old  times,  carried  a shield  in  battle.  To  lose  this 
shield  and  leave  it  behind,  was  the  greatest  disgrace 
which  could  happen  to  them.  When  a soldier  was 
killed,  or  badly  wounded,  his  companions  laid  him  on 
his  shield,  and  carried  him  out  of  the  fight.  I have 
read  of  a Greek  mother,  who  said  to  her  son  as  he 
was  going  to  the  battle,  “ Either  return  with  your  shield 
or  upon  it.”  That  meant,  “Either  conquer  or  die.'* 
My  children,  it  would  be  very  sad  for  us  to  have  to  say, 
after  we  have  met  with  temptations  to  sin— “ I have 
returned  again,  but  1 have  left  my  shield  behind” 


112 


CljtlUrni^  23r catf. 


Last  of  all,  take  this  rule  if  you  would  walk  rightly, 
mind  the  crossings.  In  London  streets  it  is  very  difficult 
and  dangerous  to  cross  the  road  sometimes.  If  you 
are  not  very  careful,  and  quite  accustomed  to  it,  you 
may  be  knocked  down,  and  run  over : or  you  may  take 
the  wrong  turning,  and  lose  yourself.  So  it  is  with 
life,  we  have  to  cross  over  a difficult  crossing  very 
often,  and  there  is  a great  crowd  of  temptations  and 
sins  all  around  us,  and  if  we  are  not  very  watchful,  we 
shall  be  knocked  down  and  run  over  by  some  of  these 
temptations.  I have  known  many  boys  and  girls  who 
were  once  pure,  happy  children,  who  lost  their  good  name, 
and  their  happy  looks,  because  they  did  ?iot  mind  the 
crossings.  They  came  to  Purity  crossing,  and  they  were 
careless,  and  evil  lust  came  upon  them;  and  they  were 
run  over,  and  cruelly  wounded.  They  came  to 
Honesty  crossing , and  they  were  not  on  their  guard, 
and  they  were  run  over  by  a temptation  to  steal,  and 
so  they  were  ruined.  When  they  passed  over  Truthful 
crossing , they  were  not  watching,  and  Falsehood  came 
upon  them,  and  overthrew  them,  and  whilst  they  were 
trying  to  escape  from  the  consequences  of  this,  they 
took  the  wrong  turning,  and  have  never  been  in  the 
right  road  since.  My  children,  be  careful  how  you 
walk,  keep  your  eyes  open,  and  ask  God  for  help  every 
day — “ Walk  circumspectly,  not  as  fools,  but  as  wise  f 
4<  Watch  and  pray,  lest  ye  enter  into  temptation.” 


SERMON  XIV. 


A BUNCH  OF  FLOWERS. 


i Samuel  xxv.  29. 

“ Bound  in  the  bundle  of  life  with  the  Lord  thy  God.’’ 

My  children,  let  us  say  the  Creed  together,  slowly  and 
carefully.  When  we  publicly  say  that  we  believe  these 
great  and  solemn  truths,  we  should  not  do  so  hurriedly 
or  thoughtlessly.  Now  I want  you  to  think  specially 
about  some  words  in  the  end  of  the  Creed — “ I believe 
in  the  Holy  Catholic  Church,  the  Communion  of 
Saints.”  I will  try  to  explain  to  you  what  those  words 
mean.  You  have  all  seen  a bunch  of  flowers  tied 
together  into  a nosegay.  You  can  see  such  flowers  on 
the  Altar  now ; you  often  bring  a bunch  of  flowers  to 


H 


114 


Kfyz  BSrratr. 


school,  and  give  it  to  the  master,  to  make  his  desk 
look  bright.  Well,  try  to  think  you  are  looking  at  a 
bunch  of  flowers  now.  What  strikes  you  first  ? That 
all  the  flowers  are  different  from  each  other.  They  are 
unlike  in  colour,  in  shape,  in  size,  and  in  scent.  Some 
are  red,  some  blue,  some  white,  some  yellow.  Some 
flowers  are  shaped  like  stars,  others  like  a bell.  Some  are 
much  prettier  and  sweeter  than  others.  You  children  are 
like  those  flowers,  so  are  we  all.  We  are  all  unlike  each 
other.  No  two  people  are  exactly  the  same  in  appear- 
ance or  character.  Some  of  you  children  are  handsomer 
than  others,  some  are  more  clever,  some  are  stronger 
than  their  companions.  Some  of  you  have  more  sweet- 
ness of  temper  than  others.  Some  of  you  girls  are  very 
handy  with  your  needle,  others  of  you  are  quick  at 
arithmetic  or  geography,  just  as  every  flower  has  its 
place  and  its  work  in  God’s  world,  so  has  every  child. 
The  fern  growing  up  in  the  lowly  corner  does  not  say, 
“ If  I were  an  oak  I might  do  some  good.”  A daisy 
doesn’t  say,  “ If  I were  a rose,  I would  do  something.” 
Each  does  his  work  in  his  appointed  place.  If  you 
look  at  the  bunch  of  flowers  again,  you  will  see  that  in 
some  things  the  flowers  are  all  alike.  They  all  begin 
alike . They  spring  out  of  the  ground,  and  God’s  sun- 
shine gives  them  colour  and  beauty,  and  God’s  rain 
refreshes  them,  and  makes  them  grow. 

It  is  the  same  with  us.  We  all  begin  alike.  God 


& 28uiiri)  of  Jflotocr^. 


115 


makes  us  all,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  is  like  the  sunshine, 
giving  us  the  beauty  of  holiness  : and  like  the  rain, 
washing  us,  and  purifying  us,  and  making  us  grow  in 
grace. 

And  the  flowers  all  end  alike . They  all  wither  and 
die,  and  from  them  comes  new  life.  So  it  is  with  us. 
We  all  must  die,  and  we  all  must  rise  again  in  the  new 
life  of  the  resurrection. 

And  these  different  flowers  are  all  bound  together 
and  centred  in  one  bunch.  Now  you  will  see  what 
this  has  to  do  with  the  Church  of  Christ.  The  Catholic, 
or  Universal,  Church,  is  called  the  Communion  of 
Saints,  that’s  very  much  the  same  as  if  we  called  it  a 
bunch  of  flowers.  In  the  Church  there  are  all  sorts  of 
different  people,  just  as  there  are  all  sorts  of  different 
children  among  you.  There  are  rich  and  poor,  high 
and  low,  clever  and  dull,  strong  and  weak.  But  all 
who  are  God’s  people  form  one  body,  just  as  the 
different  flowers  form  one  bunch.  All  those  who  love 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  all  who  try  to  do  His  will,  and 
keep  His  commandments,  no  matter  whether  they  be 
old  people  or  little  children,  no  matter  whether  they  be 
high  or  lowly,  form  one  bunch  of  sweet  flowers,  the 
Communion  of  Saints.  What  is  it  which  binds  the 
bunch  of  flowers  together?  One  piece  of  cord. 
What  is  the  cord  which  binds  all  the  Saints  of 


116 


God  together?  The  love  of  Jesus,  which  makes 
them  love  one  another.  People  are  often  mis- 
taken about  the  meaning  of  the  word  Saint  They 
think  the  Saints  are  a small  class  of  people,  different 
from  everyone  else.  My  children,  all  God’s  people 
are  called  to  be  Saints.  Jesus  says,  “ Be  ye  holy,  for 
I am  holy,”  and  being  a Saint  only  means  being  holy. 
When  we  speak  of  Saint  John,  we  merely  mean,  holy 
John.  Being  a member  of  the  Holy  Catholic  Church, 
trying  to  lead  a holy  life,  means  belonging  to  the 
Communion  of  Saints.  But  the  Communion  of 
Saints  means  more  than  this.  Many  holy  men,  and 
women,  and  little  children,  have  passed  away  from  this 
earth.  We  say  they  are  dead,  but  rather  we  ought  to 
say  they  are  living.  God  is  taking  care  of  them  in 
Paradise : — 

11  O happy  Saints  ! For  ever  blest, 

At  Jesus’  feet  how  safe  your  rest.” 

Do  you  remember  that  beautiful  hymn  which  we  sing 
at  Harvest  Thanksgiving,  and  which  tells  us  that — 

“Within  an  hallowed  acre 
He  sows  yet  other  grain, 

When  peaceful  earth  receiveth 
The  dead  He  died  to  gain  ; 

For  though  the  growth  be  hidden, 

We  know  that  they  shall  rise, 

Yea  even  now  they  ripen 
In  sunny  Paradise.’  ’ 


& Bund)  cf  Jlafcocn?. 


117 


Yes,  the  flowers  which  seem  to  have  dropped  from 
the  nosegay  are  not  lost,  they  are  growing,  ripening, 
in  sunny  Paradise.  When  your  little  brother  died, 
after  being  so  patient,  and  tender,  and  loving,  through 
all  his  illness,  do  you  think  he  was  lost  to  you  ? Do 
you  think  he  forgets  you  ? Oh,  no  ! That  little  flower 
still  forms  one  of  God’s  great  bundle  of  sweet  Saints, 
and  he  loves  you,  and  cares  for  you,  and  prays  for  you 
now  just  as  of  old,  he  is  your  brother  still,  and  you  are 
all  one  family,  “bound  in  the  bundle  of  life  with  the 
Lord  your  God.”  Your  mother,  who  was  laid  to  rest 
in  the  churchyard,  has  not  forgotten  her  darling.  She 
taught  you  to  pray,  she  first  showed  you  how  to  clasp 
your  little  hands,  and  to  say,  “ Our  Father,”  and  she  is 
praying  for  you,  and  watching  you  as  you  grow  up  day 
by  day.  So  you  see  the  Church  of  Christ  in  earth, 
and  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Paradise,  is  all  one,  one 
bunch  of  sweet  flowers,  the  Communion  of  Saints. 
The  bunch  of  flowers  which  you  placed  on  the  master  s 
table  has  one  common  home , the  flowers,  though  many 
and  different,  all  have  one  place,  the  vase  in  which 
they  are  put.  So  you,  my  children,  though  many,  are 
one  body,  and  you  have  one  home,  the  Church.  The 
flowers  in  the  nosegay  have  all  the  same  work  to  do,  to 
adorn  and  beautify  and  sweeten  the  teacher’s  room. 
The  different  flowers  do  this  in  different  ways.  One 
flower  lights  up  the  room  with  its  bright  colour,  another 


118 


&fj t C&tRrmi’g  2Srcatf* 


has  no  colour,  but  its  white  flowers  give  a delicious 
scent.  Some  blossoms  stand  out  grandly,  like  the  rose, 
or  flash  red  and  dazzling,  like  the  geranium  : others 
are  lowly,  but  very  sweet,  like  the  violet  or  the  lily  of 
the  valley,  but  you  see  they  all  work  together  to  do 
one  thing,  to  make  beauty  and  sweetness. 

You,  children,  as  members  of  the  Church,  which  is 
the  Communion  of  Saints,  have  a common  work,  to 
make  your  lives  beautiful  and  fragrant  with  the  beauty 
of  holiness,  that  you  may  present  them  to  God.  You 
cannot  all  work  in  the  same  way;  just  as  the  flowers  in 
the  nosegay  are  all  different,  yet  all  combine  to  do  the 
same  thing,  to  beautify  the  teacher’s  room  ; so  you  in 
your  different  ways  can  do  your  part  to  beautify  your 
Heavenly  Teacher’s  House.  His  Church  on  earth  can 
be  made  sweet  and  fair  by  your  lives,  if  you  are  good 
children,  and  when  your  work  is  done  here,  you  will 
join  the  saints  in  Paradise,  and  beautify  the  Heavenly 
House  of  God  your  Teacher,  still  one  body,  one  united 
family,  one  sweet  bunch  of  flowers,  ‘‘bound  in  the 
bundle  of  life  with  the  Lord  your  God.” 


SERMON  XV. 


SMALL  THINGS. 


Zecii.  v.  io. 

° Who  hath  despised  the  day  of  small  things  ?” 

You,  my  children,  are  living  in  the  day  of  small  things, 
the  day  of  little  sorrows,  and  little  joys,  and  little  sins, 
and  little  words  and  thoughts  ; but  do  not  despise  the 
day  of  small  things.  The  greatest  results,  both  of  good 
and  evil,  come  from  small  beginnings.  There  is  an 
old  fable  that  the  trees  of  the  forest  once  held  a meet- 
ing, to  complain  of  the  injuries  which  the  woodman’s 
axe  had  done  to  them.  All  the  trees  determined  that 
none  of  them  would  give  any  wood  to  make  a handle 
for  their  enemy  the  axe.  The  axe  went  travelling  up 


120 


VL\)t  &$tnrrcu’£  33rratr. 


and  down  the  forest,  begging  the  oak,  and  the  elm, 
the  cedar  and  the  ash,  to  give  him  wood  enough  for  a 
handle,  but  they  refused.  At  last  the  axe  begged  for 
just  enough  wood,  only  a little  bit,  to  enable  him  to  cut 
down  the  brambles,  which  were  choking  the  roots  of 
the  trees.  Well,  they  agreed  to  this,  and  gave  him  a 
little  wood,  but  no  sooner  had  the  axe  got  a handle 
than  the  cedar  and  the  oak,  the  ash  and  the  elm,  and 
all  the  trees  were  cut  down.  So  it  is  with  sins  and 
bad  habits.  They  begin  with  a very  small  beginning, 
the  Tempter  whispers,  “ Is  it  not  a little  one  ?M  and 
then,  if  you  yield  to  them,  they  cut  you  down  and 
destroy  you. 

A number  of  people  were  once  assembled  in  a grand 
park,  and  the  owner  of  it  pointed  to  a magnificent 
sycamore  tree,  which  was  dead  and  decayed  to  the 
core.  “ That  tree,”  said  he,  " was  killed  by  a single 
worm.”  Two  years  before  it  was  as  healthy  as  any 
other  tree  in  the  park,  but  one  day  a worm,  of  about 
three  inches  long,  was  seen  to  be  forcing  its  way  under 
the  bark.  A naturalist  who  saw  it,  told  the  owner  that 
if  left  alone  it  would  kill  the  tree.  The  master  of  the 
park  scarcely  believed  it  possible,  but  next  summer  the 
leaves  of  the  sycamore  fell  very  early,  and  on  the 
following  year  it  was  a dead,  rotten  thing.  One  worm 
can  kill  a whole  tree,  one  sin  or  evil  habit  persisted  in 
can  ruin  a child  for  whom  Christ  died. 


Jhnall  CTpnci^. 


121 


You  have  all  read  about  the  great  fire  of  London, 
in  King  Charles  the  Second’s  time.  Nearly  all  the 
houses  and  churches  in  London,  even  S.  Paul’s  Cathe- 
dral, were  destroyed  ; and  all  that  terrible  loss  arose 
from  one  fire  in  a baker’s  shop.  My  children,  never 
think  a sin  is  a trifle,  it  may  seem  small  to  you,  but  it 
is  none  the  less  dangerous.  A scorpion  is  a very  small 
reptile,  but  it  can  sting  a lion  to  death.  There  are 
plenty  of  criminals  in  our  prisons  and  reformatories 
now  who  began  by  stealing  a postage  stamp  or  telling  a 
lie.  There  are  plenty  of  ruined  men  and  women, 
who  began  as  children  by  being  too  idle  to  get  up 
betimes  in  the  morning,  and  to  do  their  work. 

My  children,  if  you  want  to  get  rid  of  the  weeds  in 
your  garden,  pull  them  up  when  they  are  young,  don’t 
give  them  time  to  grow  strong,  and  run  to  seed.  So  if 
you  want  to  grow  up  to  be  good  men  and  women,  try 
to  get  the  better  of  bad  habits  whilst  you  are  young. 
I have  sometimes  spoken  to  you  about  Hercules.  One 
of  the  stories  about  him  is  that  he  had  to  perform  some 
very  hard,  almost  impossible,  labours.  One  was  to 
clean  out  the  stable  of  King  Augeas,  which  had  never 
been  cleansed  in  the  memory  of  man.  Hercules  per- 
formed this  task  by  turning  aside  a river  out  of  its 
course,  and  carrying  it  through  the  stable.  Now,  my 
children,  we  have  all  got  some  cleansing  work  to  be 
done  every  day.  If  we  do  not  watch  over  our  lives, 


122 


3TI Cf)tRrmi’£  ISreatr. 


and  our  tempers,  and  our  words  every  day,  they  will 
become  as  foul  as  the  Augean  stable.  Every  day  we 
must  examine  ourselves,  we  must  ask,  what  wrong  thing 
have  I done,  or  said,  or  thought  to-day,  then  we  must 
ask  God,  for  Jesus  Christ’s  sake,  to  pardon  us,  and  to 
help  us  to  keep  our  lives  clean  for  the  future.  If  we 
put  off  this,  we  shall  find  our  life  as  hard  to  clean  as 
Hercules  found  the  Augean  Stable. 

Another  of  the  labours  of  Hercules  was  to  kill  the 
Hydra,  a horrible  monster  with  one  hundred  heads.  As 
fast  as  one  head  was  cut  off,  two  more  grew  in  its 
place,  unless  the  wound  was  stopped  with  fire.  We 
have  all  got  some  kind  of  a monster  like  the  Hydra  to 
fight  with.  Perhaps  your  monster  is  Bad  Temper, 
perhaps  yours  is  Laziness,  and  yours  Untruthfulness. 
Children,  you  must  fight  against  the  monster,  and  cut 
off  its  heads.  If  laziness  is  your  monster,  make  up 
your  mind,  and  to-morrow  morning  jump  out  of  bed  at 
once,  when  the  proper  time  comes,  without  waiting : 
that’s  cutting  off  the  monster’s  head.  But  you  will  find 
that  if  you  only  do  this,  two  heads  will  grow  where 
you  cut  off  one.  To-morrow  you  will  get  up  in  time, 
but  the  next  morning  the  temptation  to  be  lazy  will  be 
stronger  than  ever.  What  must  you  do  ? Why,  when 
you  have  fought  with  your  monster,  your  temptation, 
and  cut  off  a head,  you  must  get  the  wound  burnt 
with  fire,  that  the  heads  may  not  grow  again.  I mean 


Jhuall 


123 


you  must  pray  to  God  to  help  you,  and  to  send  the 
fire  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  your  assistance. 

Now  let  us  go  on  again  to  think  of  the  importance 
of  little  things.  In  the  picture  shops  in  London  just 
now,  there  is  a photograph  of  a book  with  some  of  the 
leaves  cut  and  torn.  What  do  you  think  that  picture 
represents?  A New  Testament,  which  a soldier  had 
in  his  bosom  in  one  of  the  Egyptian  battles,  and  the 
bullet  which  would  have  killed  him,  struck  the  Book 
instead. 

Some  years  ago,  a ship  was  wrecked  off  the  Sussex 
coast.  All  on  board  were  lost,  except  four  sailors,  and 
they  were  cast  on  the  rocks  ; but  as  the  sea  was  rapidly 
rising,  they  had  no  hope,  for  they  felt  that  the  tide 
would  gradually  cover  them,  and  they  must  perish  by  a 
lingering  death.  Suddenly  one  of  the  men  took  hold 
of  a plant  upon  the  rock  to  steady  himself,  the  leaves 
gave  way  in  his  hand,  and  he  saw  that  the  plant  was 
the  Samphire,  and  he  remembered  that  it  never  grows 
under  water.  So  such  a little  thing  as  a handful  of 
leaves  on  a rock  brought  comfort  to  those  shipwrecked 
men,  for  they  knew  the  waters  would  not  cover 
them. 

Remember  what  I said  about  little  sins.  They  seem 
like  trifles  to  us.  Well,  a grain  of  sand  seems  a very 
little  thing  too,  yet  millions  of  grains  form  the  desert. 


124 


Kfyt  CTjtltfrax’g  ISrcatf. 


and  bury  the  traveller  beneath  them.  When  we  do 
wrong  for  the  sake  of  pleasing  ourselves,  we  think  it 
a small  matter,  and  look  forward  to  having  our  own 
way.  But  we  find  in  time  that  what  we  get  by  our  sin 
crushes  us  at  last.  I will  tell  you  a story  about  that. 
In  the  early  days  of  Rome,  the  Governor  of  the  Citadel, 
the  strongest  part  of  the  town,  had  a daughter  called 
Tarpeia.  When  the  Sabines,  a neighbouring  tribe, 
came  to  attack  Rome,  Tarpeia  promised  to  open  the 
gates  to  the  enemies  of  her  people.  As  a reward  she 
asked  for  what  the  Sabines  carried  on  their  left  hands, 
meaning  their  golden  bracelets.  When  the  treacherous 
woman  had  let  them  in,  the  king  of  the  Sabines  not 
only  threw  his  bracelet  upon  Tarpeia,  but  his  heavy 
shield,  which  was  also  carried  on  the  left  hand.  His 
followers  did  the  same,  and  Tarpeia  was  crushed 
beneath  the  shields  and  bracelets.  So  it  is  with  sin, 
u the  wages  of  sin  is  death.” 

Again,  liiile  words  seem  mere  trifles,  but  they  are 
very  important.  Such  words  as  “ I shan’t,”  “ I won’t,” 
“ I don’t  care,”  have  made  many  a parent's  heart  sad, 
and  spoilt  many  a promising  life.  I will  tell  you  a very 
terrible  story  about  those  words,  “I  don’t  care.”  A 
young  man  once  made  a bet  with  some  of  his  com- 
panions, that  he  would  go  to  a priest,  and  confess  his 
sins  in  sport,  and  tell  his  friends  all  that  happened. 
The  bet  was  accepted.  The  young  man  went  to  the 


CIjtncj£. 


125 


priest,  and  tried  to  treat  the  whole  matter  as  a joke, 
saying  he  had  only  come  to  win  a bet.  So  he  confessed 
his  sins,  saying  after  each,  “ But  I don’t  care  for  that.” 
When  he  had  finished,  the  priest  told  him  that  he  must 
do  penance,  and  this  is  what  he  set  him  to  do.  Every 
day,  at  morning,  noon,  and  night,  he  was  to  say  these 
words  three  times — “ I know  that  I must  die,  but  / 
don't  care  for  that ; I know  I must  be  judged,  but  I 
don't  care  for  that ; I know  there  is  a Hell  for  sinners, 
but  1 don't  care  for  that .”  When  the  young  man  told 
his  companions,  they  insisted  that  he  should  undergo 
his  penance.  He  accordingly  repeated  the  words  at 
the  stated  time,  carelessly  at  first ; but  the  ofiener  he 
said  them  the  more  terrible  they  seemed ; and  he 
returned  to  the  priest  in  real  sorrow  and  repentance. 

I saw  two  little  words  put  up  in  the  window  of  the 
post-office  the  other  day,  they  were  these—  Too  late . 
If  I had  wanted  to  send  a letter  that  night,  no  matter 
how  important,  I could  not  have  done  so.  Dear  chil- 
dren, don’t  neglect  repentance  now,  don’t  put  off 
doing  your  duty  now , or  the  day  will  come  when  you 
must  say  those  words — Too  late . 


SERMON  XVI. 


THE  BRIGHT  BROTHERHOOD. 


Psalm  xxxiv.  7. 

4 The  angel  of  the  Lord  encampeth  round  about  them  that  fear 
Him,  and  delivereth  them.'’ 

There  is  a picture  which  some  of  you  may  have  seen. 
It  represents  a little  child,  dressed  as  a pilgrim,  walking 
along  a narrow  path.  On  either  side  of  the  path  is  a 
steep,  dangerous  precipice,  the  edges  of  which  are 
hidden  by  fair  flowers  and  fruit.  Behind  the  child  is 
an  angel,  whose  face  is  full  of  anxiety  for  the  little  one, 
and  who  rests  its  hands  upon  the  child’s  shoulders,  to 
keep  him  in  the  middle  of  the  path.  That  picture  is 
not  a mere  fancy.  Every  child  of  God  has  a guardian 
Angel,  who  watches  over  him,  and  helps  him  on  life’s 


dTIje  93rtgf)t  ISratljcdjaatf. 


127 


journey.  Can  you  remember  any  words  about  this  in 
the  Psalms  ? “ He  shall  give  his  angels  charge  con- 

cerning thee,  and  in  their  hands  shall  they  bear  thee 
up,  lest  at  any  time  thou  dash  thy  foot  against  a stone.” 

As  soon  as  you  were  baptised,  my  children,  God 
sent  an  holy  angel,  one  of  the  bright  Brotherhood  on 
high,  to  be  your  guardian  and  guide.  There  is  a great 
army  of  bright  angels  all  around  us,  although  we  cannot 
see  them.  Do  you  remember  how  the  prophet  Elisha 
went  with  his  servant  to  Dothan,  and  how  the  king  of 
Syria  surrounded  the  city  with  chariots  and  horsemen, 
to  take  them  prisoner  ? And  when  the  prophet’s  ser- 
vant was  frightened  at  the  sight,  God  opened  his  eyes 
to  see  that  the  mountain  was  filled  with  angels  sent  to 
protect  them.  Well,  my  children,  there  is  a great  host 
of  angels  encamped  round  those  who  fear  the  Lord. 
You  know  that  we  cannot  see  the  stars  in  the  bright 
sunshine  of  day,  but  they  are  there  all  the  same.  And 
this  Church  is  filled  with  bright  angels,  and  the  high- 
ways of  our  cities,  and  the  schoolroom  where  you  do 
your  lessons,  all  have  their  angel  visitors,  although  we 
cannot  see  them. 

When  our  soldiers  were  in  Egypt  the  other  day,  they 
marched  by  night  to  take  Tel-el-Kebir.  In  perfect 
silence  and  thick  darkness,  over  an  unknown  way,  the 
troops  moved  forward.  And  we  are  told  that  many  of 


123 


€Ije  Cljtltfren’£  SSreatr. 


them  felt  depressed  and  sad  on  that  night  march,  far 
away  from  home,  in  a strange  land.  But  there  was 
something  to  comfort  them.  We  are  told  that  they 
looked  up  to  the  sky,  and  saw  the  stars  shining  down 
on  them,  the  same  stars  which  shone  at  home,  and 
they  found  companionship  and  comfort  in  them. 

I think,  my  children,  we  shall  find  the  same,  if  we 
remember  that  the  eyes  of  the  bright  angels  are  watch- 
ing us,  and  looking  down  lovingly  upon  us.  These 
holy  angels  are  our  high-born  brothers,  for  God  made 
us  a “little  lower  than  the  angels they  are  God’s 
great  army,  who  do  His  will,  and  go  to  and  fro  between 
Heaven  and  earth.  Can  you  tell  me  of  anyone  men- 
tioned in  the  Bible  who  saw  the  angels  going  up  and 
down  between  earth  and  Heaven?  Jacob,  when  he  saw 
that  wonderful  vision  at  Bethel.  Let  us  think  of  some 
of  the  different  kinds  of  work  which  angels  do  for  us. 
They  take  care  of  us  in  times  of  danger.  You  remem- 
ber how  Daniel  refused  to  give  up  prayer,  and  was 
cast  into  a den  of  lions.  Now  it  would  seem  that 
nothing  could  have  saved  Daniel  from  death.  But  we 
read  that  when  the  king  came  to  the  lions’  den,  he 
found  Daniel  alive  and  unhurt,  and  he  told  him  that 
his  God  had  sent  His  angel  and  shut  the  mouths  of  the 
lions.  Dear  children,  if  you  will  only  be  brave  as 
Daniel  was,  and  let  nothing  keep  you  back  from  pray- 
ing, and  doing  what  is  right,  the  same  God  who  saved 


tHjC  33i*tg$t  33rntIjcrI)oatr. 


129 


Daniel  will  send  His  angel  to  take  care  of  you.  We 
read  in  the  Bible  of  a certain  poor  mother,  who  was 
wandering  in  the  sandy,  burning  desert  with  her  child. 
They  had  no  water  to  drink,  and  the  child  was  almost 
dead  with  thirst.  Do  you  remember  who  they  were  ? 
Hagar  and  Ishmael.  Yes,  and  God  “ heard  the  voice 
of  the  lad”  when  he  cried  out,  and  God  sent  his  angel, 
and  showed  poor  fainting  Hagar  a well  of  water.  Can 
you  tell  me  of  some  one  who  was  in  great  danger, 
because  he  lived  in  a wicked  city  ? Yes,  Lot,  who  was 
dwelling  in  Sodom,  and  God’s  angels  came  and  hurried 
him  away.  Now  think  of  some  one  who  was  put  into 
prison  for  Christ’s  sake.f  He  was  sleeping  between  two 
soldiers  in  the  inner  prison,  and  his  wrists  were  chained 
to  the  wrists  of  the  soldiers,  so  that  it  was  impossible 
for  him  to  escape.  Who  was  it  ? S.  Peter.  Suddenly 
a light  shone  in  the  prison,  and  the  angel  of  the  Lord 
came  and  raised  up  S.  Peter,  and  his  chains  fell  off, 
and  the  angel  took  him  safely  out  of  prison.  Do  you 
know  any  special  reason  why  the  angel  came  to  deliver 
S.  Peter  ? Because  he  was  a good  man  ? Yes,  that 
was  one  reason,  but  I read  in  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles 
that  whilst  S.  Peter  was  in  prison  “ prayer  was  made 
without  ceasing  of  the  Church  unto  God  for  Him.”  I 
think  that  was  the  chief  reason  why  the  angel  was  sent. 
When  our  Saviour  Jesus  was  in  the  Garden  of  Gethse- 
mane,  and  His  agony  was  so  terrible  that  the  bloody 

i 


130 


Clje  CTjtTtfnm’^  Brratr. 


sweat  dropped  from  His  Brow,  who  came  to  strengthen 
Him  ? An  angel. 

When  you  go  home  to-day,  children,  take  your 
Bibles  and  try  to  find  out  as  many  places  as  you  can 
where  we  are  told  about  angels  and  their  work.  We 
know  that  God’s  angels  fight  for  us.  The  devil  and 
his  angels  are  always  making  war  with  us,  trying  to 
force  us  to  sin.  When  you  got  into  a passion  yesterday, 
that  was  because  an  evil  angel  was  fighting  with  you. 
Just  as  the  holy  angels  are  all  around  us,  watching  over 
us,  and  helping  us,  so  a cloud  of  dark  angels,  the 
devil’s  servants,  are  watching  us,  laying  traps  for  us, 
putting  temptations  in  our  way,  struggling  with  us. 
We  must  fight  against  them,  and  the  angels  of  God 
will  fight  on  our  side.  I told  you  that  the  holy  angels 
are  constantly  going  to  and  fro  between  Heaven  and 
earth,  between  God  and  man.  They  are  God’s  mes- 
sengers, and  they  take  our  words  to  Him,  and  bring 
back  His  message  of  comfort  to  us.  When  we  pray 
earnestly  the  angels  take  that  prayer  to  God.  A little 
child’s  whispered  prayer  seems  a very  small  matter  in 
the  great  busy  world.  But  there  is  an  angel  waiting  to 
bear  it  to  the  throne  of  God.  When  we  have  done 
wrong,  and  are  truly  sorry,  and  when  we  kneel  and 
confess  our  sin  to  God,  an  angel  takes  the  message  to 
Heaven,  and  there  is  joy  among  the  angels  of  God 
over  one  sinner  that  repenteth. 


(Hfljc  bright  SSi^tljcrljaatr* 


131 


But  the  angels  have  another  kind  of  work.  As  they 
guard  and  keep  the  good,  so  they  punish  the  wicked. 
An  angel  with  a flaming  sword  kept  Adam  and  Eve 
from  returning  to  Paradise,  after  they  had  sinned.  The 
angel  of  the  Lord  smote  the  Army  of  Assyria,  and  in 
the  morning  they  were  all  dead  corpses.  It  was  an 
angel  who  brought  the  pestilence  upon  Jerusalem  for 
David’s  sin.  Long  after  the  Bible  days,  in  the  sixth 
century,  the  city  of  Rome  was  visited  by  a terrible 
plague,  like  that  which  came  on  Jerusalem.  S.  Gregory, 
who  was  afterwards  Pope,  caused  the  clergy  and  people 
to  walk  solemnly  for  three  days  through  the  streets, 
chanting  sad  Litanies  of  penitence.  It  is  said  that  on 
the  third  day,  as  the  procession  stood  before  the  Mole 
of  Hadrian,  Gregory  saw  in  a vision  the  Archangel 
Michael  alight  on  the  top  of  that  great  monument  of 
Hadrian,  and  sheathe  his  sword.  Then  he  knew  that 
the  pestilence  was  ended,  and  ever  since  the  Mole  of 
Hadrian  has  been  called  the  castle  of  Sant ’ Angelo , 
that  is,  of  the  Holy  Angel. 

But  last  of  all,  my  children,  when  God’s  people  die 
the  holy  angels  carry  their  spirits  to  Paradise.  The 
Gospel  tells  us  that  very  plainly.  When  Lazarus  the 
beggar  died,  “ He  was  carried  by  the  angels  into 
Abraham’s  bosom,”  that  is,  to  the  rest  and  peace  of 
Paradise,  where  faithful  Abraham  is  rewarded  for  his 
faithfulness. 


132 


Qifyz  Cljtl&ren^  2$reatf. 


I saw  a picture  the  other  day  which  is  very  sad,  yet 
very  beautiful.  It  represents  the  Roman  arena,  or 
amphitheatre,  in  the  days  when  the  Christians  were 
thrown  to  the  wild  beasts.  It  is  the  evening  after  one 
of  these  cruel  scenes.  On  the  dark,  blood-stained 
sand  lie  the  mangled  bodies  of  the  martyrs,  some  or 
them  little  children  like  you.  But  in  the  air  above  is 
a cloud  of  bright  angels,  who  are  bearing  away  the  souls 
of  the  Christians  to  Jesus  in  Paradise.  Don’t  you  wish 
that  you  could  see  the  bright  angels  now,  my  children  ? 
Well,  perhaps  if  we  led  more  strict  and  holy  lives  we 
might  do  so.  Some  people  have  seen  angels  in  these 
days.  I will  tell  you  of  two  children  who  did  so  quite 
lately.  The  clergyman,  who  knew  the  children,  tells  us 
he  is  quite  sure  the  story  is  true.  A poor  woman  in  a 
country  village  had  one  child,  a boy  of  three  years  old, 
whom  she  loved  dearly.  One  day,  whilst  she  was 
absent  from  the  cottage,  the  child  fell  into  the  fire,  and 
was  badly  burned,  that  he  died  in  a few  hours.  The 
poor  mother  was  kneeling  by  the  little  one’s  bed  a short 
time  before  he  died,  quite  overcome  with  grief,  when  the 
child  said,  “ Mother,  don’t  you  see  the  beautiful  man, 
who  is  standing  there  waiting  for  me  ? ” Again  and 
again  the  child  repeated  that  the  beautiful  man  was 
waiting  for  him,  and  he  seemed  quite  ready  to  go. 
So  the  poor  mother  found  comfort,  because  she  knew 
that  God  had  sent  his  angel,  to  carry  her  darling  home. 


(EIjc  2$rt<jljt  23rfltftcri)0atf* 


133 


The  same  clergyman  tells  us  that  a little  boy  of  ten 
was  lying  on  his  deathbed.  His  parents  watched 
almost  constantly  beside  him,  and  his  mother  found  it 
almost  impossible  to  say,  “ God’s  will  be  done,”  and 
that  made  her  sorrow  all  the  more  bitter.  Suddenly, 
one  night,  the  boy’s  parents  saw  a beautiful  gleam  of 
light  over  the  head  of  the  sleeping  boy ; as  they 
watched  it  in  astonishment,  the  light  grew  larger  and 
brighter,  and  the  most  lovely  colours,  clearer  than 
those  of  the  most  glorious  rainbow,  went  and  came.  As 
the  light  faded  the  boy  awoke,  and  joyfully  told  his 
parents  that  the  Lord  Jesus  had  come  to  him  with  two 
beautiful  angels,  and  had  told  him  that  he  would  not 
die  until  that  day  week.  They  bid  him  also  cheer  his 
mother  with  the  tidings  that  her  child  was  going  to  be 
with  Jesus.  That  day  week  the  boy  died  full  of  happy 
joy,  and  the  bright  vision  which  had  come  to  them 
cheered  the  parents  in  their  sorrow. 

Dear  children,  may  the  Lord  Jesus  bless  and  keep 
you,  and  ever  send  His  angels  to  watch  about  your  path 
and  about  your  bed — 

‘ ‘ Still  let  them  succour  us,  still  let  them  fight, 

Lord  of  Angelic  hosts,  battling  for  right  ! 

Till,  where  their  anthems  they  ceaselessly  pour, 

We  with  the  angels  may  love  and  adore.” 


THE  END. 


SERMONS  BY  H.  J.  WILMOT  BUXTON 


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complete  collection  of  65  specially-written  Short  Sermons  for 
all  the  Sundays  and  Chief  Holydays  of  the  Christian 
year,  Missions.  Schools,  Harvest,  Club,  &c.  ; with  a 
supplement  of  Twenty  Sermon  Sketches. 


This  complete  and  excellent  series  of  Sermons  forms  a perfect  store- 
house of  Teaching,  Illustration  and  Anecdote  for  the  Whole  Year,  and 
will  be  found  an  invaluable  aid  to  the  Preacher  in  Country  Towns  and 
Villages. 


Cowphte  in  2 vols .,  ehgant  cloth,  10/-,  by  post  10/7. 

Vol.  I . separately,  from  Adv  nt  to  Whit- Sunday , 5/-,  by  posto/i 
Vol.  II.  separately,  misc»lUineous.  from  Trinity  1 
to  Advent,  also  20  Sr  man  Sketches  J 


► 5/-,  bg  post  5/4 


“Thoroughly  excellent,  and  admirably  calculated  to  excite  the  in- 
terest of  a village  congregation,  while  the  great  doctrines  of  the  Christian 
Faith  are  clearly  and  boldly  set  forth  ” — (Guardian. 

“They  are  exquisite,  most  suggestive,  and  among  the  most  remark- 
able sermons  of  the  day.’’ — Literary  Churchman. 

“ Sound  in  doctrine,  vigorous  and  telling  in  expression,  devout  in 
feeling,  yet  abounding  in  illustration  and  anecdote.” — John  Bull. 

“ We  strongly  recommend  them  to  the  Clergy,  who  will  gather  from 
them  many  a hint  how  to  make  use  of  anecdote,  illustration,  scraps  of 

personal  experience,  &c.,  in  their  pulpit  teaching Always 

interesting  and  effective.”— ' hurch  Times. 

“Short,  sketchy,  and  wonderfully  graphic — model  sermon«.” 

— English  Churchman. 

“These  brilliant  sermons  will  be  really  valuable  to  the  clergy,  they 
suggest  innumerable  novel  trains  of  thought,  and  their  illustrations  are 
lavish  and  singularly  beautiful.” — Church  Quarterly. 


VILLAGE  PREACHING  FOR  SAINTS’  DAYS. 
A speciallv-written  set  of  21  Short  Plain  Sermons  for  ALL  THE 
Saints  Days.  Uniform  with  the  same  author  s Village 
Preaching  for  a Year.”  to  which  it  forms  the  1'hird  and 
Completing  Volume.  One  volume,  fcEip.  cloth,  price  4/-, 
post  free  for  4/3 

The  publishers  are  glad  by  the  issue  of  this  Volume  to  be  able  to 
comply  with  the  numerous  requests  they  have  received  for  the  Saints’ 
Day  Sermons  to  complete  Mr.  Baring-Gould’s  former  vols.  of  Village 
Preaching  for^the  Sundays. 


23ii  t fyz  Eeb.  <&.  23 acr tits:* a uXtf  [continued). 

THE  VILLAGE  PULPIT.  COMPLETE  FOR  THE 
WHOLE  YEAR,  in  2 vols.,  io /-,  by  post  10/8.  Or— 

Vol.  I.  separately,  Advent  to  Whit-sunday,  5/-,  by  post  5/4. 

Vol.  II.  „ Trinity  to  Advent,  5/-,  by  post  5/4. 

This  useful  work  contains  Sermons,  or  Outline  Sermons,  for  the 
whole  year.  The  outlines  are  so  full  as  almost  to  form  com- 
plete short  Sermons  in  themselves,  while  they  are  full  of 
illustrations,  anecdotes,  and  useful  matter  drawn  from 
Lives  and  Writings  of  the  Saints,  the  Fathers,  etc.,  as  well  as 
from  modern  everyday  life  and  experience,  and  they  form  a 
perfect  storehouse  of  original  thoughts  and  ideas  for  the  Preacher 
in  Villages,  Country  towns,  &c. 

“ May  be  profitably  used  either  for  devotional  readings  or  as  supplying 
material  for  use  in  the  composition  of  Sermons.” — Guardian. 

“These  ‘Village  Pulpit  Sermons’  are  composed  in  terse  and  telling 
sentences,  are  full  of  anecdote  or  illustration,  and  in  no  way  shrink  from 
calling  a spade  a spade,  for  plain  speaking  is  one  of  the  characteristics  of 
the  Author’s  style.” — Church.  Times. 

“ The  Preacher  cannot  easily  find  models  more  useful  or  available.” 

Church  Review. 

“ Two  remarkable  volumes.  . . Pointed  and  telling  in  the  extreme, 

models  of  manner,  and  storehouses  of  matter.” — Ecclesiastical  Gazette. 

SERMONS  TO  CHILDREN.  A specially- written 
Series.  Twenty- three  in  number,  including  a Set  of  Six  on 
Children's  Duties  and  Faults  (Tidiness,  Idleness,  Wilful- 
ness, Obedience.  Perseverance,  Idle  Talk,  etc.),  and  also  a Set 
of  Four  on  the  Seasons  of  the  Year.  The  very  practical  lessons 
of  everyday  life,  combined  with  the  picturesque  language,  the 
rich  store  of  anecdotes,  and  the  unflagging  interest  of  these 
Sermons,  will  render  them  not  only  useful  in  Church,  but  most 
valuable  and  instructive  for  School  Readings,  or  Prizes,  or  for 
Birthday  or  other  Home  Gift  Books  for  children  of  all  ages  and 
classes.  Fifth  Edition.  Cloth,  price  3/6,  by  post  3/10. 

“These  are  really  sermons  suited  for  children.  Alike  in  mode  of 
thought,  simplicity  of  language,  and  lessons  conveyed  ; and  they  are  very 
beautiful.  No  mere  critical  description  can  do  justice  to  the  charm 
with  which  spiritual  and  moral  lessons  are  made  to  flow — (not  merely 
are  drawn) — out  of  natural  facts  or  objects.  Stories,  too,  are  without 
exception  sound  and  admirable.  We  cannot  doubt  that  the  volume 
will  be,  and  will  remain,  a standard  favourite.” — Church  Quarterly, 


V 

Ecb.  J>>.  3SariUiS-<§0Uttf  {continued). 

THE  preacher’s  POCKET.  A Volume  of 

Sermons,  Crown  8vo,  cloth,  5s.,  by  post  5s.  4d. 

The  Author  has  specially  endeavoured  in  each  one  of  this  Col- 
lection of  Sermons  to  provide  some  material  really  calculated  to  set 
people  thinking.  Be  trusts  that  they  will  serve  the  country  clergy 
with  ideas  which  their  own  opinions  of  the  wants  of  their  people 
will  enable  them  to  adapt  to  even  the  most  homely  requirements. 

THE  MYSTERY  OF  SUFFERING.  A Course  of 
Lectures  (i.  The  Mystery  of  Suffering.  2.  The  Occasion  of 
Suffering.  3.  The  Capacity  for  Suffering.  4.  Suffering  Educa- 
tive. 5.  Suffering  Evidential.  6.  Suffering  Sacrificial.)  Third 
Edition.  Square  crown  8vo,  cloth,  price  3/6,  by  post  3/9. 


33»  ti)t  late  3ft.  30.  33.  JftatunSlej), 

Hector  of  Halton  Holgate. 

VILLAGE  SERMONS  (3rd  Series.)  Being  an  en- 
tirely  new  volnme  of  those  Village  Sermons  of  which  the 
Author’s  former  Series  have  been  so  successful.  Price  5s.,  by 
post  5s.  4d. 

(N.B. — This  volume  is  entirely  new,  and  quite  distinct  from  the 
same  Author’s  “ Christian  Exhortation.” 


3S»  tftc  late  Sfteb.  jj.  ®ouraa»  -ParSonS, 

WITH  INTRODUCTION  BY  THE 

Rev.  R.  W.  RANDALL,  M.A., 

Vicar  of  All  Saints’ , Clifton. 

Cloth  3/6,  by  post  3/9. 

SERMONS  TO  VILLAGERS:  A COLLECTION  OF 
Villagf.  Sermons. 


33«  tl)e  3fteb.  J§>.  $.  (Sales. 

Author  of  “ Via  Crucis,”  etc.,  etc. 

Principal  of  S»  Boniface , Warminster , 

Cr.  8vo,  5/-,  by  post  5/4. 

SERMONS  ANCIENT  AND  MODERN,  from 

Advi  nt  to  Whitsuntide,  being  a full  and  complete  collection 
of  material  for  Sermons  and  Services  for  Each  Sunday  and 
Chief  Holyday,  in  fact,  the  Church’s  Services  harmonised 
and  illustrated  from  the  Fathers,  and  Mediaeval  Writers,  as 
well  as  from  the  best  Modern  Authors  ; to  which  are  added 
Incidents  from  the  Lives  of  Saints,  Legends.  Parables,  Anec- 
dotes, Poetry,  etc.,  arranged  under  the  days  they  illustrate. 


K 


33»  3fteb.  H>.  OT.  J^kctfwgton,  fBLSl. 

Fellow  of  University  College , Oxon. 

And  Author  of  “ The  Sinless  Sufferer .” 

OUR  SINS,  OR  OUR  SAVIOUR,  and  other 

Parochial  Sermons.  A Volume  of  Parish  Sermons,  including 
Sermons  for  Advent,  Epiphany,  Lent,  Eastertide,  and  other 
Church  Seasons  to  Trinity  Sunday,  and  General  Sermons,  etc. 
Cr.  8vo.,  cloth,  5/-,  by  post  5/4. 

Bearing  in  mind  the  great  success  of  the  Author's  former  vol- 
ume “ The  Sinless  Sufferer  f which  has  reached  a Tenth  Edition, 
the  Publishers  hope  that  this  volume , though  not  written  for  pub- 
lication, but  selected  from  the  Authors  working  stock  of  Parish 
Sermons,  may  be  found  specially  useful  and  practical.  The  Sermons 
have  been  most  kindly  edited  by  the  Rev.  G.  E.  Jelf,  Vicar  of 
Saffron  Walden. 

“ There  is  in  these  sermons  so  singular  a depth  of  earnestness,  so  rich 
a source  of  beauty,  and  so  eloquent  pleading  on  behalf  of  the  Atoning 
Sacrifice  ....  in  wealth  of  thought  and  language,  in  richness  of  style  and 
in  tone  these  sermons  are  all  that  one  could  expect  from  the  author.” 

— Church.  Times. 

“ Full  of  Scriptural,  earnest,  and  loving  council,  from  first  to  last.” 

— Ecclesiastical  Gazette. 

CHEAP  EDITION  OF  “THE  SINLESS  SUF- 

FERER.”  Sermons  or  Meditations  on  the  aspect  of  our  Lord's 
Passion.  This  cheaper  Edition  (the  Tenth)  forms  a most 
valuable  Volume  for  distribution,  for  Lent,  for  Devotional  Read- 
ing, for  Mission  purposes,  for  the  Sick  or  Sorrowing,  &c. 
Cloth  elegant,  price  I/-  by  post  1/2. 

FROM  THE  RIGHT  HON.  W.  E.  GLADSTONE,  M.P. — “ I have  read 
the  Sermons  with  the  earnest  desire  that  both  the  spirit  in  which  they 
are  written,  and  the  ability  they  display,  may  be  largely  increased  and 
extended  in  the  Church  of  England.” 

FROM  THE  REV.  CANON  LIDDON.—1 "It  is  indeed  a book  of 
original  beauty,  and  a book,  as  I think  of  no  ordinary  merit.  There  is 
a freshness  and  bona  fide  character  about  its  thought  and  its  pathos 
which  tells  its  own  story.  1 shall  prize  it  very  much,” 

“Simple  in  style  and  language,  they  are  yet  the  fruit  of  most  deep  and 
devout  meditation  on  their  stupendous  theme ; they  are  evidently 
written  by  one  who  has  entered  deeply  into  the  mystery  of  suffering"; 
and  gazed  with  an  intensity  which  few  perhaps  could  attain  to  on  its 
s upreme  example . ” — Qua rd ian. 

“ Of  a high  order  as  regards  beauty  or  tenderness  of  thought,  and  of 
singularly  devout  feeling  ; — the  sermons  are  exquisitely  beautiful,” 

— Literary  Churchman . 

“It  is  impossible  to  speak  too  highly  of  the  beauty  of  diction,  the 
earnestness  of  tone,  and  the  freshness  yet  depth  of  thought,  which  per- 
vade these  sermons.”— John  Bull , 

“ They  are  of  an  exceptionally  high  type  and  have  evidently  been 
writteu  with  the  fullest  sense  of  the  grandeur  of  the  subject  which  their 
author  could  bring  to  bear  upon  them.  It  will  bear  reading  over  and  over 
again,  and  we  can  recommend  it  in  the  warmest  terms.” — Church  Times , 


SHORT  VILLAGE  SERMONS.  Each  Number  of 

“The  Literary  Churchman”  contains  an  original  Plain  Sermon 
for  some  Sunday  or  Special  Day  shortly  following  the  date  of 
its  publication.  Besides  this,  The  Literary  Churchman  ” is  a 
really  useful  and  practical  aid  to  the  Parochial  Clergyman,  and 
a most  practical  and  serviceable  guide  to  all  who  are  interested 
in  Church  Literature  and  Church  Questions,  whether  Clergy  or 
Laity.  It  is  published  every  alternate  Friday,  and  is  sent  post 
free  to  Subscribers  for  one  year  for  9/6.  Specimen  No.  for  4|d. 


23 1>  tljc  2$p.  of  (Sraijamstoum. 

Fourth  Edition.  Cr.  8vo,  cloth,  price  3/6. 

THE  PRESENCE  AND  OFFICE  OF  THE  HOLY 

SPIRIT.  Six  Addresses,  given  at  the  Church  of  S.  John  the 
Evangelist,  in  the  Parish  of  S.  Peter’s,  Eaton  Square,  together 
with  Three  Sermons  preached  at  S.  Peter’s,  Eaton  Square. 

The  immediate  Sale  of  the  first  Edition  of  this  Book  caused 
it  to  run  rapidly  out  of  print ; the  subsequent  editions  are  in 
every  way  greatly  improved  and  enlarged. 

Just  out.  By  the  same  Author,  cr.  3vo.,  cloth,  2/6,  by  post  2/8. 

SISTERHOOD  LIFE,  AND  WOMAN’S  WORK 

in  the  Mission  Field  of  the  Church  at  Home  and  Abroad. 


m.  &.  60e*,  fti.a. 

Cloth,  price  2/6,  by  post  2/8. 

THE  SUFFERINGS  OF  CHRIST;  their  Nature, 

Origin  and  Result.  A Course  of  Six  Plain  Lent  Sermons. 


3£Ub.  m.  <£.  legate, 

Rector  of  Brighstone. 

FIRST  SERIES  OF  SHORT  TALES  FOR  LADS. 

OF  A BIBLE  CLASS'  OR  NIGHT  SCHOOL,  relating  to 
various  Places,  Callings,  Difficulties,  and  Temptations,  so  as  to 
be  generally  useful.  Most  suitable  for  a School  Prize,  Sixth 
Edition,  3/6,  by  post  3/9. 

SHORT  TALES  FOR  GIRLS. 

Fourth  Edition  3/6,  by  post  3/9. 

“Written  with  much  sense  and  vigour,  and  well  adapted  for  their 
purpose. — Guardian. 

“These  books  would  be  an  acquisition  to  the  lending  library  of  any 
parish.”  — Church  Times 

“ Teachers  and  Superintendents  of  Schools  will  find  them  the  very  thing 
they  want  to  read  or  tell  to  their  classes,”  — Literary  Churchman, 


Messrs.  SJceffington  ash  attention  to  the  three  following  Manuals, 
as  thoroughly  practical,  useful,  and  attractive  little  gift  boohs 
both  in  town  and  country  parishes  ; for  boys  and  girls  on 
the  threshold  of  grown-up  life,  for  Confirmation  gifts,  etc., 
they  have  been  everywhere  found  of  the  utmost  value  and 
suitability . 

1.  BOYS : Their  Work  and  Influence.  Specially 

suitable  for  Parochial  Distribution.  (Home  and  School — Go- 
ing to  Work  — Religion  — Courage — Money — Amusements — 
Self-Improvement — Chums — Courtship — Husbands,  etc.)  Sixth 
Edition,  bound  in  elegant  cloth,  price  9d. 

2.  GIRLS  : Their  Work  and  Influence.  Specially 

suitable  for  Parochial  Distribution.  (Home  and  School — The 
Teens  — Religion  — Refinement  — Dress — Amusements  — Rela- 
tions — Friendship— Youth  and  Maiden — Service  and  Work — 
Courtship — Wives,  etc.)  Seventh  Edition.  Bound  in  elegant 

cloth,  price  9d. 

* ‘ The  merit  of  the  Papers  lie  greatly  in  their  exceeding  simplicity,  and 
strong  good  sense  ; they  are  just  precisely  of  the  kind  our  girls  in  the 
humbler  classes  need — true,  affectionate,  sympathetic,  and  real.” — 

Literary  Churchman. 

“It  is  altogether  one  of  the  most  valuable,  useful,  and  interesting 
little  works  we  have  ever  met  with.  Every  mother  should  buy  it  for  her 
children.  We  shall  be  glad  to  see  it  purchased  in  hundreds  by  the  clergy 
and  others  for  free  distribution.” — 8.  L.  Gazette . 

New  Book  by  the  same  Author.  Second  Edition,  elegant  cloth, 
price  1/6,  by  post  i/8. 

HE  THAT  SERVETH  : Council  and  Help  for 

Workers:  being  Short  Readings,  &c.,  specially  but  not  solely 
adapted  for  domestic  and  other  servants,  &c.  Including  each 
Sunday  in  Advent,  Christmas,  and  other  Church  Seasons  ; also 
on  various  Duties,  Faults,  Temptations,  Confirmation,  Holy 
Communion,  etc.  The  Publishers  believe  this  little  book  will 
meet  a very  felt  want. 


JJp  tlje  dfvanfe 

“ Vicar  of  Eastry , Kent.  Author  of  Bible  Class  Notes  g etc. 
Square  i6mo,  in  elegant  cloth,  printed  and  lettered  in  violet  and 
red,  price  i/-,  by  post  i/i 

THE  MOURNER’S  MANUAL.  A short  manual 

of  comfort  and  consolation  for  the  bereaved,  including  Short 
Meditations,  a Creed  for  the  afflicted,  Hymns  and  Prayers,  a 
Short  Office  for  use  at  a Celebration  of  the  Holy  Communion, 
if  the  friends  and  relatives  of  the  departed  wish  to  communicate, 
and  blank  space  to  fill  in  name,  etc.,  to  render  the  book  useful 
also  as  a memorial  gift. 

The  Publishers  reccommend  this  little  manual  as  lihely  to 
meet  a very  felt  want.  It  would  form  a most  appropriate  gif t 
to  anyone  or  to  any  family  suffering  under  recent  bereavement. 


i'S  'o 


